ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley takes a look at the tactical changes returning Blues boss David Moyes made to beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2
While David Moyes’ first game back as Everton manager, a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, resembled something of a hangover from Sean Dyche’s reign both in terms of tactics and personnel after the returning Blues boss was only able to spend one full day with his players ahead of the fixture, Sunday’s 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur proved to be a breath of fresh air.
Having completed a week back at Finch Farm, the 61-year-old, who guided Everton to nine top eight finishes, including their highest ever Premier League position of fourth in 2004/05, during his first spell in charge, was able to put his own stamp on the team’s set-up and the changes paid dividends with the Blues picking up their first three points since the 4-0 romp against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 4.
Using Comparisonator’s MyTeam2MyTeam tool, we are able to crunch Everton’s numbers from their 19 Premier League games under Dyche this season against their figures from the weekend, and the results make startling reading with the alterations implemented by the Scot being clear to see. Although some of the changes in the Blues’ offensive figures were negligible, with shots up slightly from an average of 9.89 per 90 minutes to 11 against Spurs, and dribbles going from 22 to 26, the overall display saw a significantly increased xG (expected goals) from 1.05 to 1.83.
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Even though they produced fewer passes than average (316 compared to 337) and fewer successful passes (261 to 271), Everton were smarter with the ball when they had it, making six key passes compared to their average for the season under Dyche of 2.68. However, it was the Blues’ off the ball work that produced the most significant gains.
Interceptions were up from 39.63 to 49 and clearances from 5.21 to 13, but it was the way Moyes’ men hunted for the ball that impressed the most. Under Dyche, the team were averaging 11.16 high presses per 90 minutes but against Ange Postecoglou’s side they did 17, an increase of 52% while there was a 69% rise in their number of pressing duels from 18.32 to 31.
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who netted his first goal in 17 Premier League matches to open the scoring, was one of the main beneficiaries of this approach as he went from having an average of 1.63 shots per 90 minutes under Dyche to getting five efforts in on goal, ensuring his xG went from 0.29 to 1.31.
Perhaps the clearest indicator of the changes brought in by Moyes though is a simple heat map that compares the positions of Everton players under Dyche this season to their showings against Tottenham Hotspur with the intensity of their movement appearing red hot on Sunday, almost like a virus swarming the other team as opposed to their more static showings under the previous regime.
Not only did this approach put their opponents on the back foot, but it won appreciation from Everton’s supporters, keeping them engaged in the game and vociferously backing their team to finally create an occasion worthy of Goodison Park’s historic final season.
*Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising over 100 different parameters. Click here for more details.
