Securing your stay in the Premier League before the final two games, or even the last, is an unfamiliar feeling for Everton fans. The last two seasons at Everton Football Club have been tough, to say the least. Few signings, constant change in managers, and barely staying up despite a budget and wage bill that suggests a much higher finish. Everton clinched survival with a 1-0 win over Brentford on matchday 35 with three games to spare.
Points Deductions
It isn’t possible to talk about this season for Everton without mentioning their points deductions. At the time of writing, Everton have been deducted eight points. Their initial ten-point deduction was reduced to six. Then they got another two points deducted in early April.
The new Premier League profit and sustainability rules were introduced to curb the overspending of teams. Explaining the rules is easy: clubs can not lose more than $134 million over three years.
Everton broke these rules over a rolling three-year period twice. They did work with the Premier League in past years to do everything to prevent these punishments, but it didn’t work. Everton manager Sean Dyche had the right mentality with the players after the points deduction helped them keep going.
Without those points deductions, Everton would sit level with Brighton on 42 points in 13h place.
Standout Players
It was hard to choose just five players to pick as standouts. One honorable mention is Abdoulaye Doucoure whose goals carried Everton at the beginning of the season. Ashley Young is 38 years old and has started 24 games this season. And of course….Seamus Coleman, because he is Seasmus Coleman!
Jarrad Branthwaite CenterBack
The 21-year-old has been a revelation for Everton this season. He should be starting for England this summer at the European Championships in Germany. A no-nonsense defender who has rarely put a foot wrong this season.
At 6-5, Branthwaite is a mountain of a man who is playing in his first season in the Premier League. His three goals have led to five points for Everton, which is huge in the battle to stay in the Prem. His lovely (it was a horrific) goal against Liverpool set the tone for a first derby win in three years. He along with his defending partner (more on him soon) have contributed to eleven clean sheets in the Premier League.
James Tarkowski CenterBack
Everton’s captain for most of the season has combined with Jarred Branthwaite to create an incredible defensive pairing. Tarkowski has had one of his best seasons to date. His blocks per 90 rank in the 98th percentile in Europe. He ranks in the 95th percentile in aerials won per 90 as well.
Tarkowski’s leadership has been invaluable to Everton this season. His constant presence in the side has culminated in a consistency (for the most part) that Everton hasn’t shown in some time. Tarkowski has started every single game this season.
On set-pieces, the threat of Tarkowski has been something opposing teams have had to gameplan for. Despite only scoring one goal this season, he ranks in the 99th percentile in touches in the attacking area among center-backs.
Jordan Pickford Goalie
Jordan Pickford has saved Everton from relegation the past two seasons. Without him, you could argue that they’d be in the Championship. So it’s no surprise he was outstanding again this season.
His man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool was only more evidence of this. Seven saves against their bitter rivals proved England’s number one’s worth. Whether it’s his trash talk or his incredible saves, Pickford always seems to run hot.
His twelve clean sheets is only second in the Prem. Pickford also has a clutch gene that always seems to go underrated. He always is great in big moments, something that has been true for club and country. He will be hoping to finally “bring it home,” for England this summer.
Dwight McNeil Left-Sided Midfielder
Three goals and seven assists may not seem like an insane return for a midfielder. However, if you factor in that Everton has only scored 38 goals (second worst in the league) his ten-goal contributions account for over a quarter of Everton’s output.
His nerd numbers amongst midfielders in Europe are even higher too. He ranks in the 99th percentile in expected assisted goals per 90. He ranks in the 98th percentile in non-expected penalty goals plus expected assisted goals per 90. What these nerd numbers are essentially telling us is that McNeil creates a lot of quality chances. Yet his lackluster production shows us he might not have the best finishers in the league.
Dwight McNeil is only 24 years old. McNeil feels older despite being a Premier League starter for the last six seasons. I say all that to say this, McNeil is not a finished product. He still can become even better and has only played in predominantly defensive sides his whole career. What would McNeil’s output look like in a more attacking side? Probably a lot higher.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin Striker
Like McNeil, DCL’s stats won’t jump off the page. But maybe his most impressive stat is his appearances, 29. He had 34 appearances in the last two seasons combined. He is essential to how Everton play. They want to win headers off the striker and win the second ball.
DCL wins about six headers per 90 minutes. With his presence, Everton can play their style. Like other tall men on this team, DCL is a threat on corners and set-pieces.
DCL also puts a shift in on defense. He’s an unselfish striker who, like McNeil, could produce more in an attacking side. DCL can hopefully improve next year after his first healthy season in three years.
The Manager: Sean Dyche
Could any other manager be okay with these circumstances? Probably not. Sean Dyche’s egoless energy has resonated with the entire team. They all play for each other with no one player seeking the limelight. Dyche has also connected the team and himself back to the fanbase that is desperately hopeful for a manager to last a while.
Dyche won’t demand investment in the squad, during his ten seasons at Burnley he was never one to do that. Other managers often come in and demand this signing or that signing. Dyche has molded the squad to fit his style, not every manager can do that. Dyche, like his time at Burnley, is in a perfect sweet spot, the expectations are so low that only relegation could do him in. Plus he’s not going to be wanted by another top club due to his perceived lack of attacking style.
Dyche’s Style
Dyche has favored a 4-5-1 this season. He plays with the aforementioned DCL up top and the team plays with a sense of speed in the build-up or try and win set-pieces. They attack corners with veracity and height. Everton uses their players’ best qualities as the team’s best qualities. Instead of trying to fit square pegs in round holes.
Dyche has been able to get the most out of this thin squad during a trying time with a points deduction and ownership instability. He mentioned last week that all that matters is winning. And honestly who the hell cares at Everton Football Club what style is being played? Everton can have European nights IF they have stable owners who make the right decision.
Summer Signings
Everton made five summer signings for a total of (pound) 37 million. After selling some key players from the season prior, Everton ended with a 28.6 million pound profit.
Beto (Striker) 25 million from Udinese: C –
Beto is hard to judge because strikers often take longer to adapt to the Premier League than any other position. He also had his best performance recently against Nottingham Forest which ended in a brutal concession that will likely keep him out the rest of the season. He’s only had nine starts. He’s scored three goals in less than 1,000 minutes.
Beto just turned 26 and still can develop under Dyche if given more opportunities. It is worth noting the most goals he’s scored in a league campaign was 11, so don’t expect him to light up the scoresheet. He will do the dirty work in defending and winning headers. Notably, football reference has his Everton teammate DCL as the player he is most similar to.
Youssef Chermiti (Striker) 12 million from Sporting: Incomplete
It’s hard to judge a 19-year-old who has played less than 200 minutes this season. Chermiti was always bought to be a signing for the future. Did Sean Dyche know this? Who sanctioned valuable funds to be spent on a future signing? Despite these questions, he does fit Dyche’s style, he’s a tall striker who can win headers and is quick on the counter.
Like fellow new signing and Portuguese Beto, he had his best game recently. It’s clear to see a pathway for both being successful next season. It’s also interesting to see what Everton do with both of them. They could look to flip one of Beto or Chermiti for a profit if the right offer comes in.
Jack Harrison (Winger) Loan from Leeds United: B-
Jack Harrison was brought in to fill the shoes of outgoing winger Demarai Gray. Has he though? Yes, he has. His six-goal involvements are better than Gray had in the season prior. His three goals and three assists aren’t anything to write home about, but he’s on a team that struggles for goals so they have been important.
It remains to be seen if Harrison will be pursued on a permanent deal, his consistency and possibility to come on the cheap, especially if his parent club Leeds United isn’t promoted.
Arnaut Danjuma (Winger) Loan from Villarreal: F
By all accounts, Arnaut Danjuma shouldn’t be on Everton. There were some murmurs that he would return to Villareal in January. Somehow, most likely because Everton needed warm bodies, he stayed. He’s never featured in Sean Dyche’s plans in a meaningful way this season. He does seem to be well-liked by the team, but that’s it.
Danjuma just isn’t a Dyche player. He’s more for a finesse run-and-gun team. He’s not going to work hard off the ball and he’s not going to do the dirty work to create chances for himself and others. Danjuma is a fantastic player, two years ago he scored six goals and two assists in Villareal’s surprise Champions League Semi-Final run. He’s just not a fit for THIS team.
Ashley Young (Defender) Free: B
Ashley Young is not going to win any awards, but he’s been needed for Everton this season. His 2100 minutes logged in the Premier League is an insane tally for a 38-year-old. If it wasn’t for an injury to first-choice right-back Nate Patterson, Young would just been a backup this season.
His experience in title-winning sides hasn’t helped Everton, they were in a relegation battle. However, his Prem experience has been helpful for the previously mentioned young center-back Jarred Branthwaite. His longevity is something to be admired in a league that rarely churns out players playing into their late-30’s.
Player of the Season: Jordan Pickford
There was only one choice here, and it was always going to be Pickford. He is Everton’s best and most recognizable player in the last few seasons. Pickford is one of the best goalies in the world and could play at many of the top clubs in the world. The fact he’s shown loyalty to Everton through thick and thin is amazing and shows the type of person he is.
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Featured Image: Tony McArdle-Everton FC/Getty Images
