The beauty of David Moyes returning to Everton is that he can learn from his first spell on Merseyside.
It’s written in the stars that Moyes can be the manager to get Everton back to where they belong, but along with learning things, he can’t repeat the same mistakes.
After a solid end to the season, it’s certainly the boost that the Toffees needed after Sean Dyche’s toxic ending.
But after what Moyes saw on Monday against Leeds United, he knows plenty of improvement is still needed.
Moyes could use a Pep Guardiola tactic at Everton to help with this improvement, but there is something else that could be re-emerging that works to a tee.
Leon Osman celebrates for Everton.
Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
David Moyes used Leon Osman as a ‘false winger’ at Everton
The Scotsman used many ways to improve his squad during his first tenure, and he can use those ways in a slightly different manner.
Leon Osman thinks Everton will finish 11th this campaign, which is certainly a positive, and Moyes might be taking inspiration from his former captain.
Speaking to the Coaches Voice in 2019, the Everton boss explained what worked so well with Osman at Goodison Park.
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“What we had was Leon Osman, who wasn’t a winger,” Moyes said.
“What they were giving me was extra midfield players. We developed a title of ‘false wingers’, where they would come in and play in the pockets inside.
“What it did was give the opposition a problem, in terms of going in with them or staying with them.”
Now, it might be suggested how this is relevant to now, but it appears that Moyes is once again repeating this success.
Carlos Alcaraz is looking like the new ‘false winger’ at Everton
It seems like Moyes has brought this role back to the Toffees, and in the form of Carlos Alcaraz.
With the signings of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, it might leave the Argentine confused as to where he stands.
But judging by the opener against Leeds, Alcaraz has a role on the wing, like Osman once did, as seen by his heatmap on Sofascore.
The 22-year-old is of course not a traditional winger, but he plays on the right, and this might be the plan with him moving forward, to have the ‘extra midfield players’, as Moyes has given instructions to Alcaraz, which have worked at times.
He is just one example of course in coming off the right and playing through the middle, as there could be a shout that Dewsbury-Hall could follow suit this season, being an attacking midfielder as well.
Although the success is yet to be seen, everything is a process, and as seen with Osman, this formula has every chance of working once again with Alcaraz or someone else.