Everton Season Debrief: Plenty to Grumble at

Progress has been the buzzword around Everton this season but there is still so much that leaves you shaking your head. I’m miles away from being ‘happily dissatisfied’. It feels like another wasted campaign and the frustration lies in the fact it didn’t have to be this way.

We keep doing the same season over and over and over; stuck on a constant loop of dealing with self-inflicted issues and making do. The Blues are always trying and hoping but never really aiming. Everton just amble through.

The club needs to change drastically, and take proactive action to address problems head on and do everything required before the first ball is kicked. The excuses just won’t wash anymore.

Anyway, I’ve debriefed the season for my own catharsis. The fact I’ve hit publish six days before the final day of the season tells you how keen I am to put Everton away in a box until mid-August. Here’s a run through of the missteps I think we’ve taken, the possible ramifications and whether progress has actually been made…

The Full-Back Issue

The situation at full-back has absolutely stifled Everton this campaign and the maddening thing is, it was a choice and totally the making of those in charge. The Blues didn’t have to play a central defender at right-back and they didn’t have to stick with the same left-back all season-long. There were options and they were ignored.

For an entire season, for more than 40 games, playing football at the highest level, Everton have been playing with only parts of the pitch. Jake O’Brien is not a right-back and so the positioning, runs that need to be made and balls that have to be played in this, a specialist role, simply haven’t been there. On the other side Vitaliy Mykolenko does not boast the attacking impetus or nous to make the correct moves. These two selections have impacted the entire side for the whole campaign; how Everton build the play up, how they attack, how they defend.

The top teams boast wing-backs who support attacks and aid the flow of the play. Due to the limitations placed on this Blues side by the persistent selection of the two full-backs who aren’t to blame, the centre-backs don’t move as they should, often retreating and deep. The midfielders look up and have limited options when looking to spread the play while wingers don’t have the runners required to make space. The centre forward too, is limited in the space to be found because the opposition defence have an easy ride, not needing to focus on wing-backs charging forward out wide.

It made Everton predictable. Opponents didn’t have much to think about and therefore could play relatively unflustered. They could take a few steps forward, take the pressure off. We majorly restricted ourselves.

The lack of playing time for Nathan Patterson is an another story altogether. Overall, the Scot simply wasn’t fancied but I don’t think he did much wrong. Patterson certainly would have provided Everton with much better shape, cohesion and functionality. I’m certain of that.

Squad Misuse

Persevering with O’Brien at right-back directly led to Everton conceding more goals. In February, I posted that when O’Brien played at full-back, the team conceded a goal every 62 minutes, had won six, drawn six and lost nine, keeping a clean sheet once every 4.25 games. Compare that to O’Brien playing in his natural centre-back role - a goal was only conceded once every 183 minutes, Everton had won four, drawn twice and lost none, while recording a clean sheet every 1.5 matches. The difference was stark.

Now it has to be said, any side missing Jarrad Branthwaite is going to suffer a downturn. The defender is a cheat code, so good is he and the way he improves the side, allowing the backline to play high while being consistent and progressive on the ball. Missing him for the most of the season and losing him again at the end of the Merseyside derby was a massive blow. However, it’s how Moyes reacted to the absence which saw Everton unduly concede and drop points.

It’s true that Michael Keane has had one of his better seasons in an Everton shirt but he is far from good enough. When the defender was offered a new deal, it was thought a pragmatic move to keep him as the fourth-choice centre-back. However, that’s not the truth. Keane has been third-choice due to O’Brien being the first pick at right-back. How many teams are going to excel picking the fourth-choice defender every game? When Keane is in the side, more goals go in.

Add to this the fact James Tarkowski has had a poor season, making errors which have proved costly, it’s absurd to see the two selected in a partnership week after week when conceding two goals or more in six straight matches. The numbers prove it’s the wrong way to go and yet we stick with it.

Sunderland attacked down the left on Sunday and Merlin Rohl realised he’d got his angles wrong and attempted to sprint across to make a tackle. The German is a central midfielder who was deployed on the right and so you could see him drifting inside occasionally. That’s natural. However, in a game of fine margins, these little moments can make a real difference to the scoreline. Signed on loan from Freiburg, Rohl has impressed Blues despite being sidelined with injury for much of the campaign. However, it was concerning to hear Moyes say, in early May, that they were ‘still trying to find the usage for him’. He’s a central midfielder or an advanced midfielder playing behind the striker. Why shoehorn him on the right?

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another who I think has been played slightly out of position. He’s had a fine debut campaign and is really rated by Evertonians. However, while he has proved efficient, effective and scored goals in an advanced role, for me, I would have preferred to see him play deeper as I think he could have had an even greater effect there. Dewsbury-Hall is excellent at driving forward with the ball and I think could dictate play far greater by being deployed in central midfield with more options around him.

On the road, I think Moyes sets up the team really well and picks up points. However, it’s at home that the team just doesn’t function as it should. The continual selection of Idrissa Gana Gueye or Tim Iroegbunam I think gives Everton a defensive dynamic not always required at Hill Dickinson Stadium. I think James Garner has the capabilities to play the number six and actually, his game is diluted when playing alongside Gueye or Iroegbunam. At this stage, I would trust him to sit and have a greater influence on how the Blues move forward with the ball. Alongside Dewsbury-Hall, I think the duo have the capabilities to break up play but, more importantly, help Everton control games at home when away teams invite the Blues to attack.

With Dewsbury-Hall settled in central midfield, I’d have played Charly Alcaraz, Merlin Rohl or Tyler Dibling in that advanced role. Choosing Dewsbury-Hall to play as the furthest forward midfielder on the pitch did have its benefits and was far from a bad decision but I think Everton would have fared better with him playing a deeper role.

Dwight McNeil becoming an instant, regular starter only after his move to Crystal Palace didn’t go ahead was completely baffling. This is a new era, with new owners, a new stadium and new players bought to take the club forward, and here we are, selecting a player who had been allowed to leave.

I’ve liked McNeil during his time at Everton. His left foot is a wand and he’s scored some important goals and made some important contributions. However, it does feel like his Blues career has ground to a rather natural end as the Blues brought in new players to freshen things up. To have given him the green light to join the Eagles surely meant the club was ready to give others an opportunity? It didn’t make sense to see him starting thereafter.

Tyler Dibling and Adam Aznou barely had a sniff and, after being deducted points for PSR only a few seasons ago, I’m not sure spending £49m on players who have spent most of their time on the bench or in the stands was the smartest move.

Whichever way you look at it, it’s concerning. Either there has been a massive outlay on players deemed not ready or they simply aren’t rated. Of course, patience is required and I don’t expect them to start every game but looking at Everton’s squad and the season, there were opportunities for them to feature and have a positive impact.

Yes, they are young players but not getting on the field surely can’t be beneficial for their development. I’d have gladly seen Dibling play the last 20 minutes of games and been given licence to play with freedom behind the strikers. Try things and get fans out of their seats with the security of having nine players behind him. For me, Dibling isn’t a winger and should be deployed centrally. I don’t think he should be judged on tracking back and should be seen as a player that has the skill and ability to unlock defences. Focus on his strengths after spending £40m to sign him.

(Still not) up for the Cup

After an abysmal showing at Leeds on the opening night of Everton’s season, the Blues kicked off line at Hill Dickinson Stadium with a win over Brighton in the sunshine before Jack Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall dazzled at Molineux in the Premier League. Defeat in the derby followed but there was a feel-good factor building as entertaining players were appearing for the Blues. Why then, did we play a weakened team in the League Cup against Wolves? Those dismal ninety minutes in the Black Country really obliterated the positivity and it was a huge error by the manager. 

Everton are a club enduring the longest barren run in club history. Blues are tired and longing for a day in the sun. In a game of such fine margins, with so much diligent work put in to secure the tiniest advantages, it seems daft in the extreme to not play your strongest side. I’m sure Jordan Pickford would prefer to play in the cup and help deliver silverware but Hey-Ho, another year without a trophy.

Mentality

Words matter and can play a huge role in the narrative and direction of the football club. Now, writing in his programme notes ahead of the match with Sunderland, CEO Angus Kinnear said that when Everton look back on the season they can be ‘happily dissatisfied’. Just picture all of the top, winning sports stars from Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Sir Alex Ferguson to Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Usain Bolt and what made them great for a moment. Do you think any of them, for one second, would be happily dissatisfied? No chance. If they were dissatisfied they would be irked and hellbent on changing things. I get what Kinnear is saying in general terms, the club feels progress has been made but without success there’s more to do. That’s fine but Everton have to start reframing these things because it constantly sounds limiting and accepting.

Moyes claiming on the 6th of January, three weeks before the transfer window closed, that signings would be unlikely was another comment that had me exhaling with despondence. Yeah, it’s a hard market, but sharing such doubt so soon? It sends entirely the wrong message and can seriously impact the vibe. Days later, Everton lost heavily to Brentford, drew with bottom club Wolves and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Sunderland. Frame things to give fans belief.

Then there was the quote that the thought of Everton in the Champions League makes the manager ‘shake a wee bit’. Yeah, sure, the team still needs major surgery and the likes of Bayern Munich and PSG possess such quality they are pretty much playing another sport. But come on, communicate positively, reassure fans that the Blues will be a different proposition thanks to sound recruitment should they qualify.

Finally, why are we still mentioning relegation and referring to it in post-match interviews? The late escapes were in 2022 and 2023. Let it go now and don’t compare. Sunderland were in League One four years ago but I’m quite sure they don’t refer to the fact so regularly after a defeat. Move forward and look ahead positively.

Ramifications of League Position

So, anyway, the lower down the table Everton finish, the less Premier League prize money will be on offer. Should Aston Villa and Crystal Palace win their respective European finals this week, nearly half the division will be able to offer prospective signings football on the continent, potentially putting them ahead of the Blues in the queue. Ah well, can’t be helped can it? Well no, it can, by proactive work last summer to ensure Everton had a fully functioning squad that could compete from August through until May. Back to square one we go and another ready made excuse when knocked out of the League Cup in September. Can’t wait.

Disengagement

I felt for Seamus Coleman on Sunday when, after 17 years of service, he was met with a mostly empty stadium after so many thousands had departed following the 3-1 defeat by Sunderland. The defender isn’t one of my personal heroes but I can certainly understand why he is an idol to the vast majority of Blues and it was sad to see his farewell appearance play out as it did. However, this is what happens when the club continually lacks the action needed to fix the issues that beset it year after year. It all just fizzles out into more disappointment.

Between 1996 and 2021, I think I left a game early on about three or four occasions. I can still remember in December 2005, Stellios Giannakopolous scoring Bolton Wanderers’ fourth as I shuffled out of the Family Enclosure. On the flip side I can still recall being the only person left on my row when the Blues trailed 2-0 to Manchester City in April 2009 with a minute to go. I used to say like it was some daft duty regardless of how many we were losing by. However, over the last five years, I reckon it’s easily 20 times that I’ve left early. There’s only so much you can withstand and if you feel like the club isn’t doing enough, it becomes harder to commit in those moments. This season has been better, but the stuff we’ve dealt with since 2021 has really taken its toll.

It was shameful for the football club that Coleman had to mention the ‘toughest times’ more than once during his exit video. The defender enjoyed some fine campaigns but will sadly be remembered by some for his rallying cries too. He’s had to front up so often and while I massively respect his constant desire to tell his team-mates the importance of Everton to the fans and drag the club out of trouble, it’s sad that players should need reminding when walking out at Goodison Park every week and witnessing the passion during coach welcomes.

August will mark 30 years since my first game and after this annual event of Everton falling short again and again, I no longer feel frustrated or gutted or sad. I’m simply disengaging more and more. It’s a film I’ve seen one hundred times. I know what happens at every part of the movie. I’m bored s***less by it.

It’s like a girlfriend, relative or mate who lets you down constantly but promises they’ll change. In the end, it’s probably best that you cut ties for your own peace. That’s what it’s felt like with Everton in recent times. At this juncture, I’m tired of hearing the same words and then witnessing the same inaction and subsequent failures. Of course, the people in place now have nothing to do with the recent struggles but it still feels so samey. It’s extraordinary that so many people can walk through the doors and yet the club seemingly never changes. It’s the culture. It needs a total reset.

So, Has Progress been Made?

Despite my cathartic moans, grumbles and complaints, yeah progress has been made. Enough though? Not at all.

Through February and March, Moyes was smashing previous point totals at different junctures of the season, reaching tallies two months earlier than the years before in some instances.

However, the malaise since the 3-0 win over Chelsea in March completely derailed any push for better and was a symptom of the issues that have festered all season. When you ignore or persist with as many glaring issues as the Blues do, it unravels fast. It’s no surprise Everton are yet again looking back on a season and thinking ‘what could have been’.

There has to be a desire and fire in the belly. We simply can’t keep plodding on and explaining away every setback. Signings have to be made and swift, the squad must be bolstered. Football isn’t linear. Just because a step forward has been made, doesn’t mean Everton will continue to progress. It has to be bold and fast. Remember, teams don’t stay together all that long. Make the most of the top players you have by adding to the squad and fast.

So, yeah, there are reasons to be cheerful and some solid foundations laid. I don’t have faith though and right now expect to be here again in twelve months time. It’s rubbish being so glass half empty but it’s learned behaviour from the facts put in front of you. There has to be a seismic switch in approach and outlook if Everton are ever going to deliver again.