Some Everton fans might be starting to regret the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
David Moyes has overseen just five wins from 15 games at the new ground so far this season – one of those coming against Mansfield in the Carabao Cup – and the loss to Bournemouth on Tuesday made it six matches without a win for Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
There are many potential reasons for the lack of success at Bramley-Moore Dock, but one of the brightest minds in football in Pep Guardiola shared an interesting theory back in 2017 when discussing the differences between playing West Ham at Upton Park and the London Stadium.
What is going so wrong at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for Everton? 😳
It is now less than one win in every three following the loss against Bournemouth… 😤
A general exterior view of Hill Dickinson Stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Everton and Bournemouth.
Credit: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA.
A feeling of added space might be working against Everton
Goodison Park was a tight, intimidating venue where opponents surely felt as if they had a maximum of two or three seconds on the ball. The stands were close to the pitch, and it was a suffocative stadium.
However, the Hill Dickinson Stadium is a much larger, more open venue, which might be giving the opposition a feeling of having more time on the ball based on what Guardiola said in 2017 – even if the pitch itself is not that much bigger.
After Manchester City recorded a comprehensive 5-0 FA Cup win over West Ham in January 2017 at the London Stadium, the Spaniard shared the differences he noticed between that venue and Upton Park.
The Guardian quoted Guardiola as saying: “Today we controlled a bit more (compared to Upton Park) through the passes. The pitch, the stadium, helped us in that sense. It looks like it’s bigger. It’s an impression.”
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Most Premier League sides – those who played at Goodison Park regularly at least – will expect a trip to Everton to be an intimidating event, but that feeling might be starting to change at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
David Moyes has already mentioned the extra space at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
Guardiola is yet to visit the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but Moyes himself has spotted a similar issue to what the Manchester City boss said about the London Stadium.
The Glaswegian said earlier this season: “We’ve got bigger spaces at the new stadium, the pitch size won’t be that much different, but it does have a bit of an effect on how it feels.
“It feels much more spacious, the pitch and the area. It’s difficult to explain but I’m trying to come up with reasons for it.”
What would your message to David Moyes be after another loss at home? 😫
He seemed fairly pleased with his players despite the defeat 😬
David Moyes' response on Everton's form at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Credit: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA.
Perhaps Everton simply need more imposing athletes – somebody like Declan Rice, for example – to cover these spaces.
Whatever the solution, Moyes needs to do something soon, as the opposition seem to be enjoying themselves at the Hill Dickinson Stadium far more than Everton this term.
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