Former Everton FC defender Michael Ball considers how the Blues can turn things around at home
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates following Everton's victory in the Premier League match against Fulham. Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates following Everton's victory in the Premier League match against Fulham. Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images
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Everton’s home form has been frustrating of late but what gives me hope that could change is the awareness David Moyes and his players appear to have of what has been going wrong.
The draw against Leeds United last time out at Hill Dickinson Stadium was frustrating, but the second half did see an improvement and, with Karl Darlow’s save from Thierno Barry and Idrissa Gueye hitting the crossbar, there were opportunities for one point to have become three.
Key to that upturn after the break was the return of Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from their respective hamstring injuries. And it was the words of Dewsbury-Hall after the game that reassured me.
In his post-match interviews, the playmaker spoke of how to galvanise the home support. He said: “It doesn't take a lot for it to become loud and for fans to get off their feet. It might only take one tackle, one press. And I think us lads just need to remember that in the back of our head.
“We don't need to be playing silky football or completely dominating teams, it's being in people's faces, getting aggressive, getting the crowd up and then playing football and showing what we're about.”
Those words have given me comfort during recent weeks and with Everton once again showing they are capable of picking up points away from home. I think Moyes and Dewsbury-Hall and those around him know what they need to do - they just need to show it from the start of matches.
Track your runners, get in faces, show that you are working hard - do not sit back and let another team get into their rhythm and dictate play. That has happened too often, though Moyes has been limited in what he could do by the players he was missing through injury, suspension and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Knowing what they need to do is one thing, putting it in practice tonight against Bournemouth is another. It is now up to Moyes and the players to get off on the front foot - start fast and make it ugly for the opposition. Yes, we want to see ability and to be entertained, but Everton supporters also want to see players put in the hard yards.
It will be interesting to see what Moyes does tonight. For the first time in a long time, he has a real selection headache. That is a good thing and I would use the squad he now has to consider a few changes - particularly given this is at home.
He could, for instance, give Gueye a rest and use Merlin Rohl, who had a good game when he last played against Aston Villa. Alternatively he could use Tim Iroegbunam or, if he trusts Harrison Armstrong as I think he does, then trust him to start in his best position.
I’m not sure James Garner is as influential when Gueye is alongside him, so that is something to consider.
And I would like to see Branthwaite back now, and back at centre back. He gives us so much more composure and balance and his pace allows the team to push further up the pitch.
Michael Keane has done well but I feel that when he and James Tarkowski are together they just sit that five or six yards deeper and that matters, particularly when you are trying to set the tone at home.
I have understood the setup in recent games but I think now, at Hill Dickinson, it makes sense to be more positive - playing four centre backs across the defence, for instance, would send out the wrong message.
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