Almost three-quarters of the way through the season, Everton are sitting in sixth place in the Premier League and are within touching distance of European football. Even though The Toffees aren’t guaranteed to qualify, they are significantly overachieving compared to pre-season expectations.
Many of the changes in both personnel and philosophy rest squarely on the shoulders of experienced manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has got the best out of his thin squad. At 71/10, the odds are against The Toffees progressing past Manchester City in the FA Cup Quarter Final, but judging by Ancelotti’s tactical genius, that is surely worth a bet.
Poachers
The reverence for Ancelotti is obvious throughout the entire squad, and that’s due to the wealth of experience the Italian gaffer has – not to mention the long list of trophies. Ancelotti has brought a new lease of life to the Everton attack, and it has made a difference in the quantity of goals the team scores, as well as the conversion of chances from centre forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
It’s no coincidence that DCL has become one of the most prolific strikers in the country since Ancelotti took charge of the Merseyside club. The Everton Number Nine was directly compared to legendary Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi by his manager, and even went on to say that Calvert-Lewin was actually better in certain aspects of the game than the Italian.
Calvert Lewin worked hard last season to chase down defenders and run the channels, but goals were lacking. Since Ancelotti has spent time working with the forward, DCL has been guided to be in the right place at the right time and score with one touch finishes and it’s made the striker one of the most feared in the league.
4-3-3
Ancelotti has experimented with multiple formations with The Toffees and being adaptable to counter the opposition is something which has enabled Everton to stifle attacks.
Long gone are the days under Marco Silva where Everton were stagnant in a 4-2-3-1, unable to find the width to attack and cross balls to Calvert Lewin as the target man. Ancelotti has flitted between his preferred 4-4-2 and the more dynamic 4-3-3 this season, but he has kept certain aspects of the game constant despite the formational tweaks.
Attacking full-backs are a key part of Ancelotti’s Everton, with Lucas Digne one of the most complete players in the Premier League. Digne is finding a freedom to attack at will, and this has led to six Premier League assists so far for the French left-back, making him the second most productive defender in the category.
Pace was also lacking from Everton’s side over the past few campaigns, but the arrival of Ben Godfrey has meant surging runs down the right-hand side which the Blues have lacked since captain Seamus Coleman suffered a serious injury. Richarlison has also become more of a threat on the wing now that he’s been given a more advanced role in the side.
Alternating CBs
Whether Ancelotti is still trying to decide what his best defensive shape is or whether it’s a bonding exercise, the Italian manager is making the most out of his options. Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey have all interchanged as centre back pairings this season and it’s bringing the best out of the squad. Having joined in 2017, this is Keane’s best season as an Everton player, and even the unpredictable Yerry Mina has started to become more reliable. Both players have added goals to their games this year which has provided a welcome boost to the team.
Ancelotti’s sides have always been defensively sound and it’s clear that a strong backline is paramount in his team. Whilst it’s unlikely that this unit will emulate the successes of any of Ancelotti’s former clubs, excitement is building on Merseyside and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Everton lifted silverware soon.
