Unsurprisingly, a Roberto Martinez defence partnered with a David Moyes attack is not working out for Everton. Ronald Koeman’s initial positives at Goodison Park has expired, falling from top four contenders towards the tedium of mid-table football. One win in 10 Premier League games makes for ugly reading for the Toffees, who will be feeling a harrowing sense of deja vu.[ffc_insert title=”” name=”FM17 Project” image_ link=”https://www.footballfancast.com/championship/aston-villa/villans-to-heroes-the-fm17-aston-villa-project-episode-4″ link_text=”Episode Four” ]A summer of transfer links and refreshing investment is yet to bear the fruit it suggested it could. The marquee deal of the warmer months was the signing of Yannick Bolasie – who has been ruled out for the foreseeable future – and the former Crystal Palace star has underwhelmed for the most part anyway. Ashley Williams has, unsurprisingly, not been the answer to the Toffees’ defensive woes, either. Idrissa Gueye, meanwhile, is a contender for signing of the season; the all-action central midfielder has kept his side afloat at times.The concern for Everton is that the problems seem to be spreading. Recent woes cannot be attributed solely to defensive troubles or creative constipation, rather they are a mixture of both. While the obliteration at the hands of Chelsea was an obvious low point, the Toffees have equally struggled to open up their opposition. Everton have scored less than Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, despite possessing a more talented group of attacking players. Koeman’s troubles are almost amplified by those gifted attackers, however: with so many of them proving unpredictable and inconsistent, no one can really tell what kind of performance they will produce from week to week.While the shape of the side looks good on paper, there is no set pattern to the play. Sporadic lines moving the ball towards Romelu Lukaku are a concern, crucially. Kevin Mirallas’ positioning in a central role sees him almost out of the game completely. Watford were more clinical on Saturday lunchtime and that, ultimately, was the difference, but that should not paper over the consistent difficulties Everton are having.
The Hornets played to a set plan. They relied on Troy Deeney’s ability to beat Williams aerially and backed Nordin Amrabat to harass Leighton Baines, which he did. Walter Mazzarri arrived in the summer and his improvements at Watford have taken effect far more dramatically. Koeman is an excellent manager and an unquestionably bright man, but Everton are currently playing like a side without a set approach or identity. The longer the Dutch manager spends striving to find aÂniche for his side, the longer this poor run of form will continue.
Everton’s early season performances exaggerated expectations for the season. Koeman still has a lot of work to do and probably a lot of changes to make in personnel. For all the talent present in the Everton squad, a new central defender, alternative striking options and natural creative force are required. Investment is not always the answer, and Everton will easily finish in the comfort of mid-table with this squad, but something needs to change for Koeman’s managerial nous to really take effect. In the meantime, however, he must decide where he wants to take this squad. Neither playing the attack-first football of Martinez or the rigid, hard-to-beat style of Moyes, the Toffees are a team unsure of their own values.
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