It couldn’t really have gone any better on Sunday. Facing a talented Brighton & Hove Albion side, which had taken apart Sean Dyche’s Everton at Goodison Park a year ago, this time it was different, with the Blues 2-0 victors over Fabian Hürzeler’s men. Whilst it’s true that the scoreline flattered the hosts, and at times it seemed as though the Hill Dickinson Stadium’s home goal was leading a charmed life, the team’s overall performance was encouraging. At the final whistle, memories of Everton’s insipid defeat by Leeds United, at Elland Road, to kick off a campaign from which much is expected of David Moyes’ squad, were banished.
Just as the Toffees really didn’t want to lose their curtain call at Goodison in May – mercifully against a hapless, easily dispatched and long-relegated Southampton, it was equally imperative for them to win their competitive primicia at their impressive new home on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey. It’ll take some time for match-going regulars to feel completely acclimatized to the club’s new state-of-the-art, near 53,000 capacity ground, but a win in what was an exciting match will help things along nicely. The Blues did make it tough for themselves, with the normally reliable James Tarkowski almost gifting the South Coast outfit a couple of goals with uncharacteristic errors.
Jordan Pickford saved the defender’s blushes on one occasion and was also called into action to save Danny Welbeck’s spot kick, when another penalty was given against Everton, again for handball. With Brighton looking like they could still be playing now without scoring, the hosts took their opportunities in more clinical fashion, courtesy of Ilman Ndaiye’s far-post finish from Jack Grealish’s pinpoint low cross, which capped off a free-flowing move — along with James Garner’s fiercely struck thunderbolt from range, which gave Bart Verbruggen no chance. If the Blues rode their luck at times, it should be acknowledged that they fielded a patched-together defence, with Jarrad Branthwaite still sidelined, and Garner forced to step in at left back. The threat from the visitors lessened after the interval, as Everton saw the game out in comfortable style.
Moyes wasted no time in deploying star attraction Grealish, and the 39-cap England international proved the manager’s wisdom with an outstanding full primicia as a left winger, in which he assisted both goals. It’s difficult, watching players – possessing the kind of talent the 29-year-old is blessed with – at others sides and transposing that into the Everton team, but within minutes it was evident what we’ve been missing. Not since the phantom COVID season, when James Rodriguez was briefly here under Carlo Ancelotti, have we witnessed a footballer with this level of ability wearing the Royal Blue shirt. It took a little time for the on-loan Manchester City man to feel his way into the game, but merienda he did it was evident that he possesses that hallmark of the exceptional player, in which time appears to slow down when he receives the ball.
Time and again he tormented poor Mats Wieffer, Brighton’s stand-in right back, and even when doubled up on he was able to face the opposition up, allowing other players to find space, before quickly shifting the ball. This is one of Grealish’s main attributes: the ability to draw attention away from his teammates, by the very danger he presents. Iliman Ndiaye, an occasional right winger for Senegal, but used there sparingly at club level last term, was his usual self on the opposite flank — undoubtedly due to the mere presence of Grealish. Routinely the focus of the opposition’s attentions, Everton’s leading league goalscorer last term opened his account, and revelled in the amount of space he was given, cutting inside freely off the wing. He’s hardly a conventional right winger, but showed he can be a valid option on that side of the pitch.
So what is the (extremely) early verdict on the team’s new €30m striker, Thierno Barry? Favoured over Beto at Hill Dickinson against both Brighton and EFL Cup opponents Mansfield Town in midweek, the forward has split fan opinion. He’s struggled to hit the target, in the few minutes he’s had on the pitch so far, but in terms of his hold-up play, touch, passing and genérico awareness of what’s going on around him, he’s way ahead of Beto. The man surprisingly awarded the number nine shirt ahead of the new campaign – despite Moyes not appearing in any way enamoured of him – offers power and directness not yet demonstrated by the 22-year-old Barry. Beto’s first thought is to run in behind and to line up a shot, which are positive characteristics for a striker, obviously. He’s certainly a handful for any centre half to go up against, with his combination of size and speed.
However, if Everton’s signings during this summer demonstrate an intent to get on the ball more this term – whether in build-up play or, more likely by swift counterattacking – then Beto is far from an ideal centre forward candidate. If he’s to have a role in structuring attacks, rather than just making runs off defenders, then he has to show more ability to retain the ball, and lay it off to teammates. His capacity to link up play, allowing attacks to continue, is inconsistent. How much can he improve in these areas, at 27? On Wednesday, his French teammate misplaced one pass in the hour he was on the pitch, whereas Beto completed just five of nine attempts. Key to Everton scoring goals will be improving decision-making and the technical aspects of those players operating in the final third, and Barry brings that.
It was fantastic to see Harrison Armstrong play the full match against Mansfield, provide the assists for both of Everton’s goals and generally look like a high-potential player, who may be closer to being a Premier League level operator than had been imagined, at this early stage in his career. Like his teammates, he didn’t really shine in the opening half, as the hosts were far too slow in moving the ball against the third-tier outfit’s low block scheme. That changed after the break, with the Blues upping the tempo considerably and achieving an early breakthrough via Carlos Alcaraz’s well-placed effort. The 18-year-old was heavily involved in setting that up, and later interplay with the impressive Garner – restored to his general midfield position – put it on a plate for Beto to prod home from close range, putting the tie beyond doubt. Yes, the visitors were a League One side, and given Armstrong did well in the Championship during a short loan at Derby County last season, it’s to be expected that he’d look good against this level of opposition.
However, he showed genuine quality in his play, attributes which would scale up against higher-level sides: composure on the ball (a 92% pass completion rate), increased strength (winning 2 of 3 ground duels) and vision (three key passes). He’s undoubtedly the best academy graduate that the club has produced since Anthony Gordon, but is far more advanced at 18 than was the winger, who was later sold for a €45.6m when nearing his 22nd birthday. Arguably, a better comparison could be to the prodigious Ross Barkley. It appears as though the youngster may depart on loan to the Championship before the window closes, conditional on a midfielder coming in, but should he stick around the first team, the rate of progression he’s showing suggests that he could be ready to step up sooner, rather than later. Personally, I’d like to see the club’s brightest homegrown talent be retained, at least until January; there’s no need to rush him out of the door.
Following their successful breaking in of the new stadium, the Toffees head on the road, to complete their short run of games before the unwelcome interruption of the traditional early season international break. The team’s destination on Saturday is Molineux Stadium, where they’ll face Wolverhampton Wanderers — who have started the campaign by losing both of their opening two league matches. Vítor Pereira – helming the Midland outfit – has seen star player Matheus Cunha sold to Manchester United for a huge €74.2m fee, along with talented left back Rayan Aït-Nouri, snapped up by Manchester City for €36.8m, along with experienced right back Nélson Semedo, who opted to join Fenerbahce on a free.
Wolves have been active in attempting to plug the gaps in the starting lineup, adding Celta de Vigo winger Fer López (€23m), Colombian right winger Jhon Arias from Fluminense (€17m), Girona centre half Ladislav Krejci (loan, with an obligation to buy for €22.5m next summer), along with full back pair Jackson Tchatchoua and David Møller Wolfe, purchased for €12.5m (Hellas Verona) and €12m (AZ Alkmaar) respectively. The summer’s big signing – Jørgen Strand Larsen – who joined for €27m, following a successful loan from Celta last season, in which he scored 14 league goals from 35 appearances, is rumoured to not be available for Saturday’s match, with Newcastle United poised to submit a huge bid on the Norwegian.
Although Wolves rallied back to dispatch West Ham United in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, with Larsen bagging two late goals, the team has been heavily disrupted during the transfer window, and is not in a good place as they prepare for Everton’s visit. The Blues look in good shape ahead of the game, with Vitaly Mykolenko’s welcome return at left back, a reasonably well-balanced look to the side, and morale high. There’s no reason why the team should be set up in as disappointingly passive a fashion as it was at Elland Road a couple of weeks ago, and if they play with confidence, they are more than capable of a successful performance, and securing a positive result at Molineux. I’m going with the tentative prediction of a 2-1 win for the Toffees.
The Closing of the Window
With the end of the transfer window fast approaching, what is the situation regarding Everton’s squad? The summer saw the departure of no fewer than 12 senior players, including seven who had made at least ten league appearances last season. In addition, both backup goalkeepers left, leaving the club’s work-in-progress transfer committee with plenty of work to do in rebuilding the squad. So far, there have been seven new arrivals — as Alcaraz had already been on loan with the Blues from January. However, two of those incoming players are goalkeeper replacements, so only five fresh outfield signings have been made: Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Recibidor, Barry, Adam Aznou and Tyler Dibling, who was brought in from Southampton last week for a fee of €35m.
On paper, the Toffees have 25 first team players, which looks absolutely fine, until you look under the hood. That number includes a fourth ‘keeper (Harry Tyrer), along with three others – in Armstrong, Nathan Patterson and Youssef Chermiti – who appear likely to leave on loan shortly, which brings it down to 21 — not enough to endure the rigours of a full season. Right back is an obvious weak spot, with centre half Jake O’Brien merienda more filling in, and with Seamus Coleman, who got through 90 minutes against Mansfield intact, as the only backup. Whilst it was encouraging to see the Irish veteran in action again, he’s been rarely available over the past two campaigns and as he turns 37 in October, relying on him to reverse a long trend of declining fitness at this stage is optimism run wild. Few right backs have been linked to the Blues, however, which is a concern.
The other major weak area is in the centre of the park. Although the Toffees have five players who can line up in midfield (assuming that Armstrong departs on loan), those likely to be in contention for the two central spots are Garner, the ageless (though still 35-year-old) wonder that is Idrissa Gueye, and Tim Iroegbunam — who has little experience in the top flight. Alcaraz has only seen limited action in a deeper role at Everton, and Dewsbury-Recibidor will also probably be used as an more advanced player. There’s an obvious need for a defensive midfielder, but some of the names appearing in the media, intended to fill the role, appear not to tick the right boxes, in terms of characteristics, or in being a shrewd use of finances. It’s imprescindible that Everton get this one right, or the team could end up with an unbalanced midfield unit.
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