Idrissa Gueye

Everton’s 2018/19 Statistical Summary

Bradley Cates Reports , , , , , , , , ,

A statistical summary of an improved season for Everton.

Team Stats

  • Everton won 12 points against the Top 6 this season – the most in a single season since 2013/14 (15).
  • Everton kept 14 clean sheets in the Premier League this season – only the top 3 have kept more.
  • Excluding penalties, Everton scored 16 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season – only Liverpool have scored more (20).
    • Conversely, Everton conceded 16 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season – more than any other team.
  • Everton have conceded 23 goals from open play in the Premier League this season – half the number they conceded last season.
  • Everton created 69 chances from set pieces (free-kicks and corners only) in the Premier League this season – 7 more than any other team.
  • Everton had 55 yellow cards in the Premier League this season – only the top 3 had fewer.
  • Everton had 4 red cards in the Premier League this season – only Leicester (5) had more.
  • Everton hit the woodwork 12 times in the Premier League this season – only Chelsea (15), Crystal Palace (13) and Manchester City (13) hit the woodwork more often.
  • In April, Everton scored a goal from a throw-in situation in consecutive home games (Phil Jagielka against Arsenal and Richarlison against Manchester United). Before then, they hadn’t score a league goal from a throw-in situation since Nikica Jelavic’s second goal against Southampton in September 2012.
  • Only one team did the league double over Everton this season (Manchester City) – the fewest since 2013/14 (1 – also Manchester City).
    • Conversely, Everton did the league double over 2 teams (Burnley and Cardiff) – the fewest since 2015/16 (2 – Aston Villa and Newcastle).
  • Everton’s 6-2 defeat to Tottenham in December was only the 9th time in the club’s history they conceded 6+ goals in a competitive game at Goodison Park.
  • Everton’s 6-2 defeat to Tottenham was also only the second time in the club’s history they conceded 6+ goals in a competitive game at Goodison Park despite scoring the opening goal (after against Manchester City in September 1928).
  • Everton’s 5-1 win over Burnley on Boxing Day was their biggest away win in the league since they beat Sheffield Wednesday by the same scoreline in September 1985.
  • Everton’s 5-1 win over Burnley was also the first time they scored 5 goals in an away game in the Premier League and also the fastest they scored 3 goals in a game (after 22 minutes) since against Sheffield Wednesday in April 1996 (3 goals after 21 minutes).
  • Everton scored a penalty and a goal directly from a free-kick in their 5-1 win over Burnley – the first they had done so in the same game since against Manchester City in January 2010.
  • Everton’s defeat to Millwall in the FA Cup was the first time they were knocked out of the FA Cup by lower league opposition despite taking the lead in the game since against Bolton in January 1994.
  • Everton’s defeat to Millwall was also only the third time in the club’s history they were knocked out of the FA Cup despite taking the lead twice in the game. Coincidentally, the previous two occasions were also against lower league opposition (Brighton in 1924 and Tottenham in 1937).
  • Everton’s 3-2 defeat to Newcastle in March was only the 4th time in the club’s history they had lost a competitive game after leading at half-time by 2+ goals (after against Leicester in September 1926, Aston Villa in December 1926 and Sheffield United in April 1975).
  • Everton’s win against Chelsea in March was the 7th consecutive time they won a home league game on St Patrick’s Day.
  • Everton’s 1-0 win against Arsenal in April was the 13th consecutive time they won a home game on Grand National weekend.
  • Everton’s 4-0 win over Manchester United was their biggest win over the Red Devils since they beat them 5-0 in October 1984.

Player Stats

  • Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson have scored 13 goals each in the Premier League this season – the first time two Everton players have reached double figures in a single league campaign since 2002/03 (Kevin Campbell and Tomasz Radzinski) and the first time two Everton players have scored 13+ league goals in a single season since 1986/87 (Kevin Sheedy and Trevor Steven).
  • Richarlison scored in his first two competitive games for Everton – only the second player to do so since 1981 (after Brian McBride in 2003).
  • Idrissa Gueye made 142 successful tackles in the Premier League this season – only Wilfred Ndidi has kept more (143).
    • Alternatively, Gueye made 4.5 successful tackles per 90 minutes – 0.6 more than any other player who played a minimum of 90 minutes
  • Lucas Digne scored 4 goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season – only Christian Eriksen scored more (6).
  • Jordan Pickford saved 3 penalties in the Premier League this season – only the third time in the club’s history an Everton goalkeeper saved 3 penalties in a single league campaign (after Tommy Fern in 1920/21 and Neville Southall in 1988/89).
  • Gylfi Sigurdsson missed 3 penalties this season (scored 2/5) – as many as he missed in his entire career prior to this season at club and international level (scored 24/27).
    • All 3 of his missed penalties were at Goodison Park, making him only the second player to miss 3 penalties at Goodison Park in a single season (after Wayne Rooney in 2017/18).
  • Michael Keane won 192 aerial duels (60.6% success rate) in the Premier League this season – only Sean Morrison won more amongst defenders (226).
  • Lucas Digne created 71 chances in the Premier League this season – 20 more than any other defender and joint-9th overall.
  • The previous season, Oumar Niasse had more shots on target than any other Everton player (18). This season, 3 Everton players bettered that tally – Gylfi Sigurdsson (34), Richarlison (29) and Theo Walcott (21).
  • 5 ft 5 Bernard won 3 aerial duels in the Premier League this season. He won headers against Jack Cork (6 ft 1), Kyle Walker (5 ft 10) and Eden Hazard (5 ft 8).
  • Richarlison’s brace against Wolves in August was the first time an Everton player scored 2+ goals in the first league game of the season since Tony Cottee scored a hat-trick against Newcastle in August 1988.
  • Richarlison’s brace against Wolves was also the first time a player scored twice on his Everton debut since Jo against Bolton in February 2009.
  • Phil Jagielka’s red card against Wolves in August made him only the 4th player in Everton’s history to be sent off in the first league game of the season (after Charlie Parry in 1889, Dave Jones in 1976 and Li Tie in 2003).
  • Yerry Mina’s goal against Burnley on Boxing Day was Everton’s 7,000th top-flight goal.
  • Lucas Digne’s red card against Cardiff made him the first Everton substitute to be sent off since Kevin Mirallas against Swansea in September 2015.
  • Jordan Pickford’s penalty save against Newcastle in March was the first time an Everton goalkeeper saved a penalty he gave away since Richard Wright against Sunderland in August 2002.
  • Bernard’s goal against West Ham in March was not only his first league goal for Everton, but was also his first shot on target in the Premier League.
  • Phil Jagielka’s goal against Arsenal in April made him the oldest Everton player to score a goal (36 years and 233 days) since Richard Gough against Southampton in August 1999 (37 years and 138 days).
  • Gylfi Sigurdsson was the first Everton player to score a goal in both league meetings in a season against Manchester United since Graeme Sharp in 1981/82.
  • Ben Mee’s own goal for Everton against Burnley in May made him the third player to score multiple own goals for Everton in the Premier League (after Shay Given and Ryan Shawcross).

Premier League Stats

Total

  • Most goals – Richarlison/Sigurdsson (13), Calvert-Lewin (6).
  • Most shots – Sigurdsson (86), Richarlison (83), Calvert-Lewin (52).
  • Most shots on target – Sigurdsson (34), Richarlison (29), Walcott (21).
  • Most assists – Sigurdsson (6), Digne (4), Bernard/Tosun (3).
  • Most chances created – Sigurdsson (74), Digne (71), Bernard (40).
  • Most attempted dribbles – Bernard (82), Richarlison (81), Sigurdsson (67).
  • Most successful dribbles – Gomes (41), Bernard (40), Richarlison (39).
  • Most interceptions – Gueye (74), Digne (60), Zouma (54).
  • Most clearances – Keane (182), Zouma (120), Digne (94).
  • Most attempted tackles – Gueye (180), Bernard (89), Digne (88).
  • Most successful tackles – Gueye (142), Digne (71), Sigurdsson (56).
  • Most shots blocked – Keane (22), Zouma (12), Digne (9).
  • Highest pass accuracy (min. 500 passes) – Schneiderlin (88.6%), Gomes (84.8%), Gueye (84.3%).
  • Most aerials duels won – Keane (192), Calvert-Lewin (111), Zouma (98).
  • Most amount of times dispossessed – Richarlison (90), Gomes (50), Calvert-Lewin (42).
  • Most unsuccessful touches – Richarlison (111), Sigurdsson (78), Walcott (77).
  • Most fouls committed – Gueye (54), Gomes (49), Digne (39).
  • Most fouls suffered – Richarlison (73), Sigurdsson (39), Gueye (38).
  • Most offsides – Walcott (19), Richarlison (17), Tosun (8).

Per 90 metric (min. 500 minutes)

  • Most goals – Richarlison (0.44), Sigurdsson (0.37), Calvert-Lewin (0.30).
  • Most shots – Tosun (3.2), Richarlison (2.8), Calvert-Lewin (2.6).
  • Most shots on target – Tosun (1.5), Richarlison/Sigurdsson (1.0).
  • Most assists – Lookman (0.30), Tosun (0.26), Sigurdsson (0.17).
  • Most chances created – Digne (2.2), Sigurdsson (2.1), Bernard (1.7).
  • Most attempted dribbles – Lookman (5.2), Bernard (3.5), Richarlison (2.7).
  • Most successful dribbles – Lookman (3.4), Gomes (1.9), Bernard (1.7).
  • Most interceptions – Gueye (2.4), Kenny/Zouma (1.9).
  • Most clearances – Keane (5.5), Mina (5.0), Zouma (4.1).
  • Most attempted tackles – Gueye (5.7), Davies (4.0), Gomes (3.9).
  • Most successful tackles – Gueye (4.5), Schneiderlin (2.6), Davies (2.5).
  • Most shots blocked – Keane (0.67), Mina (0.50), Zouma (0.41).
  • Most aerials duels won – Keane (5.8), Calvert-Lewin (5.6), Mina (3.8).
  • Most amount of times dispossessed – Lookman (3.7), Richarlison (3.0), Gomes (2.3).
  • Most unsuccessful touches – Richarlison (3.7), Calvert-Lewin (3.4), Tosun/Walcott (3.3).
  • Most fouls committed – Schneiderlin (2.3), Gomes (2.2), Davies (1.9).
  • Most fouls suffered – Lookman (3.1), Richarlison (2.5), Calvert-Lewin/Davies (1.6).
  • Most offsides – Walcott (0.81), Tosun (0.69), Richarlison (0.57).

Comparison Between 2017/18 And 2018/19

Everton in 2017/18 and 2018/19

Previous Seasons’ Summaries

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18

Everton’s 2017/18 Statistical Summary

Bradley Cates Reports , , , , , , , ,

A statistical summary of Everton’s unforgettable (for all the wrong reasons) season.

Team Stats

  • Everton have conceded 58 goals in the Premier League this season – the most since 2000/01 (59).
  • Everton have conceded 36 goals away from home in the Premier League this season – the most since 2003/04 (37).
  • Everton have scored 44 goals in the Premier League this season – the fewest since 2005/06 (34).
  • Everton have won just 3 games away from home in the Premier League this season – the fewest since 2002/03 (1).
  • Everton have scored 15 league goals in the first half this season – the fewest since 2004/05 (14).
  • Everton had just 9.4 shots per game in the Premier League this season – the second-fewest in the league (ahead of Swansea’s 8.9).
  • Everton had just 3.2 shots on target per game in the Premier League this season – the fifth-fewest in the league. The 4 teams who had fewer shots on target per game are in the bottom 6.
  • Everton made 12.1 fouls per game in the Premier League this season – more than any other team.
  • Everton made 32.3 clearances per game in the Premier League this season – more than any other team.
  • Everton blocked 4.2 shots per game in the Premier League this season – the joint-third most in the league (with Bournemouth). Burnley and Brighton blocked more shots per game (5 each).
  • Everton created 7 chances per game in the Premier League this season – the third-fewest in the league (ahead of Swansea’s 5.8 and Huddersfield’s 6.9).
  • Everton had 16.2 unsuccessful touches per game in the Premier League this season – the joint-most in the league (with Crystal Palace).
  • Everton attempted 12.1 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season – the second-fewest in the league (ahead of Burnley’s 9.1).
    • Everton also made the second-fewest successful dribbles per game in the Premier League this season (6.9 – ahead of Burnley’s 5.7).
  • Everton have conceded 3+ goals in a half 9 times in all competitions this season – the most since 1950/51 season when they got relegated (12 times).
  • Everton have conceded 3+ goals in 11 games in all competitions this season – exactly the same amount as in the 2015/16 season.
  • Everton have conceded 3+ goals in 8 league games this season – only one fewer than in the 2015/16 season.
  • Everton have conceded 4+ goals in 6 games in all competitions this season – the most since 1963/64 (also 6).
  • Everton have conceded 4+ goals in 5 league games this season – the most since 1984/85 (also 5).
  • Everton lost by a 3-goal margin in 3 consecutive games this season (against Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester United in September) – only the third time in the club’s history this has happened (after November 1913 and December 1929).
  • Everton have conceded 4+ goals in successive games (against Atalanta and Southampton in November) for the first time since December 2005 (against Bolton and Aston Villa).
  • Everton fell behind in 13 consecutive games this season (from Bournemouth in September to Southampton in November) – the worst run in the club’s history.
    • That run was also part of another run where they fell behind in 18 out of 19 games (from Hajduk Split in August to Southampton in November) – the one game they didn’t fall behind in was their 3-0 win over Sunderland in the League Cup.
  • Everton’s 4-0 deficit at half-time against Arsenal in February was the first time they conceded 4 goals in the first half and were 4 goals down at half-time since December 1963 (also against Arsenal).
  • Everton’s 3-0 deficit at half-time against Manchester City in March was the first time they conceded 3 goals in the first half of a home game and were 3 goals down at half-time in a home game since against Wigan in the FA Cup in March 2013.
    • This was the first time this happened in the league since against Arsenal in August 2009.
  • Everton’s 5-2 and 5-1 defeats to Arsenal meant they have conceded 5+ goals against a team in both league meetings in a season for the first time since Manchester City in 1957/58, and only the sixth time in the club’s history.
  • Everton’s 0-0 draw against Liverpool in April was the first time there hasn’t been a single booking in a Merseyside Derby since December 1992.
  • Everton’s 3-2 win over Watford in November was the first time they came from 2-0 down to win at Goodison Park since the Great Escape against Wimbledon in May 1994.

Player Stats

  • Wayne Rooney was Everton’s highest goalscorer in the league (10) and in all competitions (11), despite not scoring (nor assisting) in his last 16 games of the season (15 in Premier League).
  • Wayne Rooney’s penalty against Liverpool in December was the first time Everton scored a penalty against Liverpool at Anfield since Wayne Clarke in December 1988.
  • Wayne Rooney missed 3 penalties this season – the most an Everton player have missed in a single season since Alan Ball in 1968/69 (also 3).
  • Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick against West Ham in November made him the first Englishman to score a hat-trick for Everton since Steve Watson against Leeds in September 2003.
    • It also made him the first Everton youth product to score a hat-trick for the Blues since David Johnson against Southampton in November 1971. (NB: Joe Royle also scored a hat-trick in this game but he scored his hat-trick goal in the 60th minute while Johnson scored his in the 85th minute, thus making Johnson the most recent hat-trick scorer.)
    • It also made him Everton’s 5th oldest ever hat-trick scorer (after Sam Chedgzoy, Jock Dodds, Louis Saha and Harry Potts).
  • Oumar Niasse had 18 shots on target in the Premier League this season – more than any other Everton player, despite making only 10 starts.
  • Oumar Niasse’s brace against Bournemouth in September made him only the 4th ever Everton substitute to score 2+ goals in a league game (after Stuart Barlow, Duncan Ferguson and Steven Naismith).
    • His brace also made him the 10th different player in the club’s history to score 2+ goals in a game as a substitute in all competitions.
  • Oumar Niasse scored 5 goals as a subsitute in all competitions this season – the joint-most ever by an Everton substitute in a single season (with Adrian Heath in 1985/86).
  • Since his January move from Arsenal, Theo Walcott made 27 successful dribbles in the Premier League – more than any other Everton player have made in the entire season.
    • Seamus Coleman, meanwhile, made the third-most (25) despite playing his first game of the season on 31st January.
  • Idrissa Gueye made 117 successful tackles in the Premier League this season – the second-most in the league (behind Wilfried Ndidi’s 138).
  • Jonjoe Kenny blocked 22 crosses in the Premier League this season – the seventh-most in the league, despite playing only 19 games.
  • Anthony Gordon’s appearance against Apollon Limassol made him the first ever Everton player to be born in the 2000s.
    • It also made him the 8th 16-year-old to play for Everton (after Joe Royle, Francis Jeffers, Wayne Rooney, James Vaughan, Jack Rodwell, Jose Baxter and Jake Bidwell).

Premier League Stats

  • Most goals – Rooney (10), Niasse (8), Tosun (5).
  • Most shots – Rooney (45), Calvert-Lewin (43), Sigurdsson (39).
  • Most shots on target – Niasse (18), Calvert-Lewin/Rooney (17).
  • Most assists – Calvert-Lewin (6), Sigurdsson/Baines/Walcott (3).
  • Most chances created – Sigurdsson (38), Rooney (34), Baines (24).
  • Most attempted dribbles – Walcott (46), Calvert-Lewin (43), Davies (37).
  • Most successful dribbles – Walcott (27), Davies (26), Coleman (25).
  • Most interceptions – Gueye (62), Schneiderlin (61), Keane (53).
  • Most clearances – Keane (206), Jagielka (177), Williams (170).
  • Most attempted tackles – Gueye (168), Schneiderlin (87), Martina (80).
  • Most successful tackles – Gueye (117), Martina (61), Schneiderlin (58).
  • Most blocks – Gueye (65), Keane (47), Sigurdsson (43).
  • Most shots blocked – Keane (28), Williams (23), Jagielka (20).
  • Highest pass accuracy (min. 10 games) – Gueye (84.7%), Schneiderlin (83.9%), Williams (80.7%).
  • Most aerials duels won – Calvert-Lewin (135), Keane (129), Jagielka (67).
  • Most amount of times dispossessed – Rooney (57), Calvert-Lewin (40), Davies (39).
  • Most unsuccessful touches – Calvert-Lewin (70), Niasse (64), Sigurdsson (53).

Everton’s 2016/17 Statistical Summary

Bradley Cates Team Stats , , , , , , , ,
Home  Everton in the Premier League Away
43 Points 18
13 Wins 4
4 Draws 6
2 Losses 9
42 Goals Scored 20
16 Goals Conceded 28
8 Clean Sheets 5
277 Shots 225
111 Shots On Target 80
55% Shot Accuracy % 47%
21% Conversion Rate % 12%
209 Chances Created 185
13 Games Everton Scored First 6
6 Games Opponents Scored First 11
9 Leading At Half-Time 1
2 Losing At Half-Time 8
4/45 Points Lost From Winning Positions 7/21
11/21 Points Earned From Losing Positions 5/36

Shot accuracy and conversion rate exclude blocked shots.

Team Stats

  • Everton have won 13 home games in the Premier League this season – as many as the previous two seasons combined.
  • Everton have earned 43 points at Goodison Park this season – the most since 1989/90 (45).
  • Everton have earned 18 points away from home this season – the fewest since 2003/04 (10).
  • Everton have earned 25 more points at home than away – the biggest points differential between home and away records in a season since 1989/90 (31).
  • Everton scored only 25 league goals at Goodison Park in the whole of 2016. Everton had already bettered that tally in 2017 by scoring their 26th on April 9th.
  • Everton’s 4-0 win over Manchester City was the first time the club had two teenage goalscorers in a game (Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman) since James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe scored against Fulham in 2007.
  • January 2017 was the first time Everton went through an entire calendar month with a 100% record without conceding a goal in the league since November 2002.
  • Everton have scored 18 goals in the final 10 minutes of Premier League games – no other team has scored more.
  • Everton have conceded 6 goals in the opening 10 minutes of Premier League games – only Hull (7) have conceded more.
  • Everton have made 9 goalline clearances in the Premier League this season – more than any other team.
  • There is a 20-goal difference between Everton’s top 2 goalscorers in the league this season (Romelu Lukaku – 25, Ross Barkley – 5) – the biggest difference since there was a 21-goal difference in 1977/78 (Bob Latchford – 30, Duncan McKenzie – 9).

Player Stats

  • Romelu Lukaku has scored 25 league goals this season – more than any other Everton player in a single season in the Premier League era, and the most since Gary Lineker scored 30 in the 1985/86 First Division. It is also the 2nd highest tally in the Premier League this season (after Harry Kane, who scored 29).
  • Romelu Lukaku is the 6th player in Everton’s history to score 25+ goals in all competitions in successive seasons (after Bert Freeman, Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Roy Vernon and Bob Latchford).
  • Romelu Lukaku is the 4th player in Everton’s history to score 20+ goals in all competitions in 3 consecutive seasons (after Dixie Dean, Roy Vernon and Bob Latchford).
  • Romelu Lukaku has scored more league goals than any other Everton player in the Premier League era (68).
  • Romelu Lukaku is the first Everton player to score two hat-tricks in a league season since Tony Cottee in 1992/93.
  • Romelu Lukaku has had 55 shots on target in the Premier League this season – only Harry Kane (58) has had more.
  • Romelu Lukaku has scored 24 goals excluding penalties in the Premier League this season – no other player has scored more (Harry Kane also 24).
  • Romelu Lukaku has scored 20 goals from open play in the Premier League this season – more than any other player.
  • Romelu Lukaku is the only player in the Premier League this season to score 5+ goals with his left foot, right foot and head (12, 7 and 6 respectively).
  • Romelu Lukaku has scored 9 goals in the final 10 minutes of Premier League games this season – 3 more than any other player.
  • Maarten Stekelenburg’s penalty saves against Manchester City made him only the 2nd goalkeeper in Everton’s history to save 2 penalties in the same game (after Tommy Fern against Sunderland in 1921).
  • Maarten Stekelenburg’s penalty saves came within the space of 27 minutes. He has made as many penalty saves in 27 minutes as 5 Premier League teams has made in the entire season (including Everton) and more than the other 15.
  • Maarten Stekelenburg has made as many goalkeeping errors leading to a goal as clean sheets in the Premier League this season (3).
  • Idrissa Gueye has made 136 successful tackles in the Premier League this season – more than any other player. It is also the 2nd highest amount of successful tackles in the top 5 European leagues (after Sporting Gijon’s Sergio Alvarez, who made 144).
  • Idrissa Gueye scored his first Everton goal against Sunderland – exactly like his namesake Magaye Gueye.
  • Ross Barkley is the first player to score Everton’s first and last home game of the season since Graeme Sharp in 1983/84.
  • Ross Barkley has created 84 chances in the Premier League this season – 24 more than any other English player.
  • Phil Jagielka was the first Everton defender to score in 3 consecutive games (against Manchester United, Leicester and Burnley) since Dave Watson (against Liverpool, West Ham and Manchester United) in 1991.
  • Phil Jagielka was the first Everton defender to score in 3 consecutive league games since Billy Cook (against Blackpool and Derby twice) in 1938.
  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goal against Hull made him the first Everton player with a double-barrelled surname (i.e. hyphenated) to score in a game in any format since John Eyton-Jones scored in a friendly against Burnley in March 1888.
  • Morgan Schneiderlin’s goal against West Brom made him the first Everton number 2 to score in a competitive game since Steve Watson scored a hat-trick against Leeds United in September 2003.
  • Before this season, no player has scored multiple own goals for Everton in the Premier League. Now, there are two (Shay Given and Ryan Shawcross).
  • Leighton Baines’ goal against Southampton was his 23rd from a penalty – no other player has scored more penalties for the club (Trevor Steven and David Unsworth also 23).

Koeman At 10

Bradley Cates Reports , , , , ,

When Ronald Koeman came to Everton, he had a big task on his hands. Morale was low, Everton were underperforming and fans were turning against their club. So, 10 games in, has he made any progress? The short answer is yes.

A Blistering Start

After a competent 1-1 draw against Tottenham, Everton won 5 consecutive games in all competitions. After last season, Everton fans couldn’t wish for a better start. In the Premier League, Everton earned 13 out of a possible 15 points, which (taking goal difference and goals scored into consideration) was their 5th best ever league start (adjusted to 3 points for a win). Also, the club’s 4 league wins showed promise for the future. Before this season, Everton won at least 4 of their opening 5 league games 10 times, eventually finishing in the top 2 seven times. The previous couple of seasons were already looking likely to be eradicated from Everton fans’ minds. And Koeman had seemingly already transformed the team.

martinez-v-koeman

A Slight Dip in Form

Following the League Cup defeat to lower-league Norwich, a defeat to Bournemouth and a draw against Crystal Palace, fans were unhappy with the club’s performances in those games. Some fans were turning against their own players again, and Koeman as well, in spite of a great start to the season.

It is inevitable that a dip in form would take place some time during the season. Ronald Koeman, his brother Erwin and Jan Kluitenberg amongst others had just joined the club, so Everton cannot be expected to be world-beaters overnight.

Because of that dip in form, before the game against Manchester City, fans were worried about how Everton would fare against greater opposition. Evidently, those fans weren’t aware that Ronald Koeman was in charge of a Southampton side that beat Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United the previous season. Nowadays, beating those five teams in a single season is incredibly difficult. Take into consideration as well that Everton earned a point against last season’s title contenders Tottenham when the players were “70% fit”. So Koeman knows how to play against the big teams. And he showed it again after Everton drew to Manchester City 1-1, despite Everton having only 28% possession. He relied on his defence and Stekelenburg and they made him and the fans proud.

The Defence

Last season, Everton’s defence was atrocious. They had lost 20 points from winning positions and conceded 55 goals, 22 of them in the final 30 minutes of the game. It was evident that poor defending and tactics played a massive contribution to Everton’s downfall. But then along came Koeman.

In the Premier League so far, Everton have conceded 6 goals, and the club hasn’t conceded more than one goal in a game. The defence is already showing phenomenal progress. One weakness, however, is aerial defending. 4 of the 6 goals Everton have conceded in the Premier League this season have come from header. In fact, Everton have lost 6 points from winning positions so far this season, all because of conceding headed goals. Since the start of last season, Everton have conceded more headed goals than any other team in the Premier League – a very high 18 goals. So this is a problem Ronald Koeman has to sort out sooner rather than later.

That being said, aerial defending is the Everton defence’s only weakness. One statistical quirk is that Everton have yet to conceded a single goal from a kicked shot inside the area in the Premier League. Overall, they have conceded only one kicked goal in the 8 games in the Premier League so far. So, when the ball is on the ground, Everton’s defence is almost impenetrable.

Statistic Amount PL Rank
Goals Conceded 6 19th
Shots On Target Faced 22 18th
Interceptions 90 17th
Clearances 243 2nd
Shots Blocked 38 5th
Crosses Blocked 28 =1st
Passes Blocked 79 5th
Tackles Attempted 280 2nd
Tackles Won 180 2nd

The stats show that Everton have become more aggressive this season. Last season, they have been a bit soft. In fact, last season, they attempted the second-fewest amount of tackles in the Premier League. So, some aggression was badly needed and, so far, it has paid dividends. Also, Everton have made just one defensive error all season. At this stage last season, they made 7 defensive errors.

 

The Signings

Paul Pogba cost over £90 million. N’Golo Kante cost £30 million. Idrissa Gueye? A measly £7 million. Who has had the better season? Gueye by an absolute lightyear.

So far, Idrissa Gueye has won 43 tackles in the league this season. No player in the top 5 European leagues has won more. The only other player who won as many is Nantes defender Lucas Lima. And Lima played one game more than Gueye! Idrissa Gueye has been everywhere, as shown by his touch maps below.

idrissa-gueye-touch-maps

Ashley Williams has made a bit of an impact, too. His experience, leadership skills and strong defending helped Everton improve their backbone and made him more than just a John Stones replacement. He made 54 clearances (joint-10th highest in the Premier League), and his partnership with Phil Jagielka has become one of the most defensively solid partnerships in the Premier League.

Yannick Bolasie, so far, is a question mark. He has 3 assists to his name (all for goals scored by Romelu Lukaku), however that didn’t stop fans questioning his ability. In the past two games, Yannick Bolasie made 14 crosses, but only one has been successful. In total, only 11 out of 46 crosses have been successful. After Everton paid around £25 million for the winger, one would expect him to be a better crosser.

When Maarten Stekelenburg signed for Everton, fans thought he was going to be the number-two goalkeeper. However, apart from a youngster from Oldham, Everton didn’t sign another goalkeeper. Fans were wary about Stekelenburg, in spite of his experience. He had a bit of a quiet start. However, his own goal didn’t help if he wanted to silence his critics (although, in Stekelenburg’s defence, he was fouled). He did silence his critics in the end by performing a goalkeeping masterclass against Manchester City. He saved two penalties (only the second time ever an Everton goalkeeper saved two penalties in the same game) and two goalbound fingertip saves helped Everton earn a brilliant point. That performance will undoubtedly boost his confidence.

Deadline Day signing Enner Valencia has yet to make much of an impact yet. However, given how well Romelu Lukaku is doing, it is unlikely that he will do.

The Resurgence of Romelu Lukaku

Before this season, Romelu Lukaku had a poor 2016. 3 goals in 18 Premier League games was an abysmal record for a striker. He wanted to leave Everton, however over time, it seems apparent that this was largely down to his strained relationship with Roberto Martinez. But once Everton signed his best mate Yannick Bolasie, he was happy again.

So far, Lukaku has scored 6 goals in the Premier League – only Diego Costa scored more with 7. His 11-minute hat-trick against Sunderland was the fastest by an Everton player since 1980. And he is one goal away from becoming the third Everton player to score 50 goals in the Premier League. He is happy at Everton again, and thanks to Koeman and Bolasie, it looks like he will be staying at Everton for a little while.

Conclusion

A solid start for Everton. Ronald Koeman, Idrissa Gueye and Ashley Williams instantly made themselves at home, while Maarten Stekelenburg has just finished decorating and Yannick Bolasie is still deciding on which wallpaper to use. Everton’s tally of 15 points after 8 games is their joint-best tally in the Premier League era. Which season did they also reach that tally after 8 games? The 2013/14 season, where they ended up with a record-breaking 72 points.

The signs are looking good. Let’s hope the players keep their heads screwed on and there won’t be any bad injuries.