da dobrowin： We’re not even ten games in, yet the Premiership had already thrown up a number of surprises. West Brom have beaten Arsenal away, Chelsea have lost at Manchester City and the fact that Fernando Torres has only scored one goal! What is even more surprising is Everton’s poor start to the season – heading into a tough game against Birmingham whilst being bottom of the league. So, why have they started so badly?
da poker： Goals
Everton just haven’t found the back of the net enough. In six games they’ve only scored four goals – all of them being at Goodison Park. Their goal scorers have been Cahill (2), Arteta and Pienaar – all of whom are midfielders that like to push forwards, but who should only be relied on to get a few additional goals to supplement their strikers. Yakubu looks to have gained weight and appears slow and sluggish up front, Jermaine Beckford has failed to find his feet in the Premier League and both Louis Saha and Victor Anichebe have struggled with injuries.
Tactics
In recent years, Everton have played with a five man midfield and a lone striker up front. This has served them well – helping them to establish themselves as a team that compete for Europe. Various forwards have played this position well under David Moyes, but it just doesn’t appear to be working for them anymore.
Squad size and lack of investment
Expectation amongst Everton fans is at the highest it has been for a long time, and irrefutably David Moyes has done a great job with a limited budget. However, other clubs have gone out and spent more money that Everton – leaving them behind. Outside of the traditional top four, the likes of Man City, Spurs and Villa are all fighting for European spaces and have spent millions strengthening their squads in a way that Everton haven’t matched. Against Brentford (a match they should have comfortably won with the squad that played) the team looked tired and need of a rest.
Joseph Yobo
The decision to let the powerful Nigerian go on loan to Fenerbahçe at the beginning of the season seemed odd at the odd time. Although he only made 17 appearances last season, he’s a senior squad member with international experience who has helped establish the club in recent seasons. Jagielka and Distin look a solid partnership, but for a squad short on players (as well as with Jagielka playing more games through England duty) – it would certainly be worth having Yobo around.
So Everton fans where is it exactly going wrong at present?
Written By Jon Ireland