After months of waiting, Barclays Premier League football is back. One of the fixtures on the opening day was at Goodison Park as Everton hosted Watford in a thrilling encounter. Watford were the first to strike, Mexican winger Miguel Layun hitting home on the half-volley after some poor Everton defending. After a long hour of football, Ross Barkley produced an incredible effort, which gave the hosts an equaliser. Just moments later, substitute Odion Ighalo managed to go past two Everton defenders before slotting past Tim Howard. It looked like it could’ve been The Hornets day, until Everton striker Arouna Kone managed to finish past Gomes to earn a point for The Toffees. So then, was it a fair result? How did Watford do? Could Everton have done better? Here is my analysis and review from Saturday’s match.
First-Half
It seemed as if all the work in pre-season, the three months off, the time to relax and think of new things to make Everton move forward this season, meant nothing in the first half. It was last season summed up. Everyone was static, no movement in the entire team. Once again, Romelu Lukaku was left upfront waving his arms about as the Everton defence was passing the ball around the back for 45 minutes. As expected, Watford were playing men behind the ball (or as it is also known, parking the bus). Even before they scored, Watford packed the defensive half.
Obviously it would make Everton work, but we was shocking. The only person who was trying to create something for Romelu Lukaku was Gareth Barry, nobody else was trying anything. The first-half completely summed up the last campaign, back-passing, side-ways passing, nobody moving forward. This is backed up by the amount of touches we had on the ball in the final third.
(Everton’s touches on the ball, 0-45 minutes, broken up into thirds of the pitch)
Just 25.91% of our touches in the first 45 came in the final third. Nothing for Romelu to feed on, just shocking back passes all the time. There are players in that Everton team that could create chances, Ross Barkley, Kevin Mirallas, why didn’t they move forward and create something for Lukaku? It was an abysmal first half for Everton.
Meanwhile, Watford fans were having the time of their lives at the left side of the Bullens. Every time they had a chance to break forward, they did exactly that. The Watford team was happy to sit back and counter at every opportunity. The visitors made 22 interceptions in the first-half, Everton made just 8 comparing to them. They also made 23 clearances, Everton made 16.
(Watford’s heat-map of the whole team, 0-45 minutes)
The visitors just sat back and pressed, the exact way to play against a 2014/15 Everton side. The sad reality is, is if Watford had a fast, creative winger on their team it could have been 0-2 or 0-3 to The Hornets.
Second-half
Everton came out into the second-half much better. Kevin Mirallas was moved upfront next to Romelu Lukaku (drifting right at some moments). Seamus Coleman and Brendan Galloway pushed much more forward with Gareth Barry covering the left side. The hosts now had two strikers on the team and at some moments even having 3 at the back. The Toffees performed much, much better, creating many chances and Romelu Lukaku almost scoring a few times.
(Everton’s crosses attempted in the second-half)
The Toffees made 20 crosses in the second half, almost double the amount made in the first period. Everton managed to bring on Arouna Kone on the sixty-third minute, probably the best move of the game. Kone managing to assist Ross Barkley’s wonder-strike, surprising everyone after the dire pre-season he had. Just after Everton’s first goal, Bryan Oviedo replaced Kevin Mirallas to add to Everton’s crossing game.
Goodison was rocking at this point – that was until Odion Ighalo comfortably buried the ball past Tim Howard. The goal demonstrated what manager Quique Flores would be bringing to Watford, a counter-attack that could’ve been easily defended. John Stones sliding the wrong way, Phil Jagielka not even attempting to block the shot (some say he is still sliding, trying to defend that effort) and a comfortable finish from the striker. In fairness, it was a great counter but for Everton’s standards it wasn’t good enough.
There was time for one more goal though. Gareth Barry making an excellent pass into Romelu Lukaku – like he had been doing all game. Lukaku showed his strength with some great hold-up play and a great pass to set up Kone who finished well. A great equaliser from almost nothing to give Everton a point.
To be honest, Everton should be winning that game. We created enough chances in that second half to take the game, but we weren’t clinical enough. Watford done the work defensively and Heurelho Gomes was brilliant in goal for most of the game. It feels like 2 points lost in my opinion, no disrespect to Watford but they aren’t a team that could set the world on fire. It’s disappointing, but at least we didn’t come out of the match with a 2-1 defeat.
evertonfc.com
Key points
1. Two strikers is they way forward for Everton
After an awful first half, it was great to see Roberto Martinez actually changing something for once. Playing two strikers benefited both Romelu Lukaku and Arouna Kone. It also benefits the players trying to create something for the strikers to feed on. We looked so much better and looked so much more likely to score rather than back passing around the middle third.
2. Will counter-attacking help Watford to survive?
I think it’s clear what Quique Flores will bring to Vicarage Road. Watford had created two clear chances in the entire game, both going in. If Watford are going to continue with this style of play, I do think they need another good winger to build the pace when moving forward. Whether it could give Watford the key to survival is questionable.
3. Everton still needs to play two wingers
In fairness, I thought Cleverley had a good performance against Watford, but he isn’t a winger. When Gerard Deulofeu is fully fit again, I am sure Roberto would play him and Kevin Mirallas on the wings, but we do need one more. Xherdan Shaqiri? Manuel Nolito? As long as they can play on the wing and their last name isn’t McGeady we are good.
Man of the Match: Gareth Barry
Gareth was the only person knocking the ball forward to Romelu Lukaku throughout the whole 90 minutes. He didn’t make any stupid tackles and was fantastic covering left-back when Brendan Galloway or Bryan Oviedo was pushing forward. Barry also helped in the second goal, making the excellent long ball into Romelu Lukaku. Maybe he shouldn’t play every game, but Barry can play well occasionally.
Conclusion
Another 2-2 draw for Everton on opening day, the first time led to a brilliant season, the second led to an awful season. Who knows were this season could leave Everton, but the biggest point to bring out of this game is changing the team can win you games. Okay, Everton didn’t win, but putting two strikers was the best move of the game and helped crack a well organised Watford defence. Lets just hope we don’t start next week like we did on Saturday.
Stats via Squawka
Up the Toffees
Joel Parker
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