Everton were way below-par against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday evening as they fell to a 4-1 loss – with a number of problems being highlighted.
Malick Thiaw scored inside a minute to immediately put Everton under pressure, and that was soon doubled when Lewis Miley added a second after some incredibly poor defending from David Moyes’ side.
Nick Woltemade made it three before half-time, with clear jeers from the Hill Dickinson Stadium faithful becoming apparent, and when Thiaw added his second and Newcastle’s fourth, it made for grim reading.
But despite the clear defensive lapses and Jordan Pickford’s mistakes, former Everton striker Andy Gray knows where David Moyes is going wrong, with a toothless attitude in the final third of the pitch.
Everton striker Thierno Barry.
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Andy Gray believes Everton are clueless in attack and David Moyes doesn’t know the solution
Everton have scored just 14 Premier League goals this season in just 13 games, only ranking higher than Leeds United, Wolves and Nottingham Forest so far this season.
The Toffees are clearly lacking in that area, and when you take into account that they’ve gone goalless in four games, that doesn’t extrapolate well throughout the campaign.
And that has led Gray to believe that Everton’s attack is their major weak point, suggesting that David Moyes doesn’t know how to fix their attacking problems. The Toffees icon said on beIN Sports: “Once again, the lack of cutting edge, the lack of threat at the top end of the pitch was there for all to see.
STAT: Thierno Barry had the lowest amount of touches (26) of any player who started in Everton’s 4-1 loss to Newcastle. Even Jordan Pickford (36) and Aaron Ramsdale (37) had more.
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“They had a lot of the ball, particularly in the first half.
“From penalty area to penalty area they were OK, but when they get in that last third, the few chances that Everton can create in open play is staggering.
“I don’t know how David solves that. I don’t think he’s found the right balance quite yet.”
Everton do need to start scoring more goals, especially given that they have only scored eight goals in seven home games and they are unable to add players for at least another month.
Everton may have to turn to the January transfer window to fix their striking issues
Andy Gray certainly knows where the back of the net is, having played for Everton from 1983 to 1985, winning the First Division title, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the process.
He will have a great grasp on how to put the ball in the back of the net, and his concerns should be taken seriously by The Friedkin Group.
Who would be your perfect January signing for Everton?
David Moyes ideally needs a new striker, midfielder and right-back all in the space on the January window…
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Iliman Ndiaye, who has been linked with a move away from Everton, is their highest scorer but he will be going to the Africa Cup of Nations soon and that will only add to Everton’s problems.
Joshua Zirkzee has been linked and scored his first Manchester United goal in the Premier League for 364 days in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, which may just have put him in the shop window.
With Thierno Barry and Beto failing to do much in the league so far, it’s clear that the Toffees need some fresh legs in the final third and the January transfer market may be the chance to do so.
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