Everton analysis from Chris Beesley after the clash with Leeds United in the Premier League on Monday
ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley has covered Everton and Liverpool both in the Premier League and abroad since 2005. He cut his teeth in professional sports journalism at the Ellesmere Port Pioneer and then the Welsh edition of the Daily Post, where he also covered Manchester United. Prior to that he worked on the student newspaper Pluto at the University of Central Lancashire, a role in which he first encountered David Moyes. Chris is well-known for his sartorial elegance and the aforementioned Scottish manager once enquired of him at a press conference: "Is that your dad's suit you've got on?" while the tradition continued in 2023 with new Blues boss Sean Dyche complimenting him on his smart appearance.
Moyes and Grealish (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
All right on the night?
Everton manager David Moyes’ frustrations appeared to boil over somewhat in his pre-match press conference for this game at Finch Farm on Friday when he was asked whether he felt that the right-hand side of his team remained a priority area for strengthening. The Blues boss told the reporter asking the question that he should be a scout as it’s been obvious to anyone possessing a modicum of football understanding, let alone a manager with more experience in the Premier League than anyone other than Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, that there is currently a gaping hole on that side of Everton’s team.
Right wingers have seldom been in vogue on Merseyside when it comes to politics but when the neighbours have got the outstanding player/top scorer in the division in that area in Mohamed Salah, a club that was once possessed the likes of Trevor Steven and Andrei Kanchelskis, is crying out for inspiration. Loan pair Jesper Lindstrom and Jack Harrison, now back at Leeds United – who was booed and barracked again by his own club’s so-called ‘supporters’ here again, were unable to provide enough cutting edge for the Blues in that role last term, but as things stand there is now just a void where Moyes is forced to put square pegs into round holes.
During his first spell at Goodison Park, the Scot did not always deploy orthodox wingers there, but the likes of Mikel Arteta and Leon Osman both oozed quality. Turning Charly Alcaraz’s loan spell into a permanent transfer felt like a ‘no-brainer’ over the summer but while the Argentinian often caught the eye, cutting inside from the left flank, he looked far less comfortable at Elland Road on the opposite side of the pitch.
Out of his comfort zone, the former Southampton man had actually slipped on several previous occasions before the pivotal moment that saw him take a tumble in the build-up to the move that resulted in Leeds’ match-winning penalty. Whether Everton go back to the Saints to strike a deal for Tyler Dibling or look elsewhere, late in the window now other potential targets have gone, they need to get at least one through the door, if not two.
Striking the balance
Although Beto got the nod to lead the line in Everton’s first game of the season ahead of new signing Thierno Barry, on the whole it proved a thankless task for the Blues striker who now wears the number nine jersey. The Guinea-Bissau international hardly touched the ball in a challenging first half which saw the visitors very much on the back foot and go in at the break with an expected goals (xG) calculation of zero.
It was a far more challenging assignment for the player who almost two years ago had made his Everton debut in Yorkshire, turning a Carabao Cup second round tie around when the visitors had trailed at the break to then League Two strugglers, Doncaster Rovers. Ian Snodin is a proud son of England’s largest county who turned out for the two aforementioned white rose outfits before he switched to the Blues in 1987, turning down neighbours Liverpool in a transfer choice that was vindicated as he won the League Championship later that year.
But while Everton ambassador Snodin, who was back on ‘home turf’ here, joined the club when they were at the peak of their powers, they are now once again very much a work in progress right now. One of Beto’s plus points, compared to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has moved in the opposite direction across the Pennines to Snodin’s switch, is that even in difficult games, he would still often ask questions of opponents and test defences, but here he was unable to get very little change out of his markers.
The man who by his own admission came close to departing Everton in January before suddenly finding himself as Moyes’ own fit striker, now has fierce competition for his place in the shape of the £27million buy from Villarreal and he knows that with the bar raised, he’s going to have to occupy defences far more if he’s to retain his spot in the coming weeks.
As for his predecessor Calvert-Lewin who wasn’t involved here, his new team might have won the battle, but they still face a mammoth task this term to ‘win the war’ and keep their heads above water, with his decision to come to Elland Road appearing curious given the calibre of high-profile suitors we were once led to believe were coveting his signature.
Jack the lad
It feels somewhat different than Merseyside’s rivalry towards their fellow North West metropolis, but they don’t seem to appreciate much that comes out of Manchester in these parts and although he wasn’t affiliated to hated rivals, the ‘other’ United from Old Trafford, following his loan move from the Etihad Stadium, Jack Grealish found himself on the receiving end of a hot reception from the Elland Road faithful as he spent the bulk of the evening sat on the bench.
When, with 20 minutes remaining, Moyes felt it was time to introduce the first £100million English footballer, one supporter among the home fans told the 29-year-old to “Get his hair cut.” That seemed rich, given that Leeds feel like they’ve had more players with man buns than anyone in recent years.
The 29-year-old received more love back in Lancashire last weekend when this correspondent visited Bury Market and the lady serving at the cake stall told me: “You’ve stolen Grealish!” Enquiring whether she was a fan of Jack, the response was that he offered a bit of “Eye candy,” but in truth, whatever you think of the Brummie playmaker’s physical appearance, either good or bad, he’s joined the Blues to offer far more than that.
This 20-minute cameo was very much the beginning for an immense talent who can play a considerable role in ensuring Everton’s first season by the banks of the Mersey proves to be a positive one.
He may have found himself surplus to requirements in Pep Guardiola’s relentless passing style at Manchester City, but with Moyes able to put an arm around him and make Grealish the main man in a team that plays to his strengths, the hope must be that there are much better days ahead for both the individual and his new colleagues.