Exploring Everton’s Resurgence under David Moyes
Everton are the in-form team in the Premier League since appointing David Moyes as manager. The ex-Toffees boss returned to Goodison Park following the dismissal of Sean Dyche in January and has guide the Blues to four wins in six Premier League matches. It now appears Everton are safe from the drop and can now look up the table during what is a crucial time for the club.
This article will look at the ways in which Moyes has turned things around in the blue half of Merseyside and why this is important for the future of the football club.
The Story so Far
Everton endured a miserable start to the season and at the start of January and won just three Premier League games under Dyche. Not only was the team struggling to claim victories but a big reason for that was the inability to stick the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.
However, Moyes’ arrival, 12 years after he initially left the club to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, has seen the Toffees turn their fortunes pretty much in an instant. Everton lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa just days after he took up the hotseat again but then defeated Tottenham 3-2 to put smiles on faces at Goodison before heading to Brighton and triumphing 1-0. In the next game, the Blues scored after just ten seconds to lead against Leicester at home and went on to beat the Foxes 4-0.
Everton then earned a memorable point against city rivals Liverpool as James Tarkowski popped up at the back post to fire in a 98th minute equaliser. Impressively, after the emotion of coming back in the final ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Moyes’ side then travelled to Crystal Palace and earned another victory, this time 2-1 courtesy of Beto and Charly Alcaraz.
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Moyes History with Everton
Moyes joined Everton for his first spell back in March 2002 and transformed the club from relegation battlers into a side pushing for Europe and the top four on an annual basis. The Toffees are one of the most historic clubs in England and also one of the most successful with nine league titles but during this barren spell in the 21st century, Moyes gave the Everton faithful their best campaigns.
The Scot also led the Blues to the 2009 FA Cup final at Wembley and they were a seriously competitive outfit with players like Leighton Baines, Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka showing a consistency which meant Everton were able to push and challenge. Though a trophy win wasn’t accomplished, the team made giant strides under Moyes until his departure in June 2013.
Tactical Changes and Playing Style
Moyes hasn’t altered a great deal in terms of tactics and actually uses the same formation as Dyche but he has made some tweaks which have totally transformed how Everton function.
Centre-back Jake O’Brien, a summer signing barely used by Dyche, has been deployed at right-back giving the Toffees a solidity while Jesper Lindstrom is playing on the right-wing but also operating as a right-wing back when the Blues don’t have the ball. This flexibility means Everton can attack in greater numbers while not negatively impacting the backline.
On the other wing, Vitaliy Mykolenko has also been given more licence to join attacks thanks to the new system which means Iliman Ndiaye can then drift into central areas and hurt teams with dangerous running through the middle of the pitch.
Key Players
Everton have a number of important players across the team who will play a major part in both the present and future.
England number one Jordan Pickford is playing his eight season at Goodison Park and has continually earned the team big points and is a major reason behind Everton avoiding relegation. Iliman Ndiaye is the creative hub in the team, with his silky skills and direct running a key factor in the Blues creating when going forward. Jarrad Branthwaite, meanwhile, is a generational talent and, despite his young years, the centre-back is a colossal presence at the back.
Bright Future
Everton are sadly leaving Goodison Park after 133 years and will leave this summer for a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. Therefore it was imperative the Toffees secured their Premier League status and made the move as a top-flight club. Moyes will now be tasked with leading the new era and it seems the club have a bright future as they look to return to the glory years Everton enjoyed during the first centry of the team’s existence.
Wrapping Up
Overall, Everton are a Premier League ever-present and will now be looking to end the season on a high with Moyes in order to give Goodison Park the farewell it deserves having been one of the most iconic and historic arenas in English football.