Everton analysis: Have the Toffees turned a corner?
Everton registered just their second win of the Premier League season on Saturday as they beat Ipswich Town 2-0.
A pair of fine finishes from Illiman Ndiaye and Michael Keane secured the win at Portman Road, leaving Everton 16th in the league table.
Incredibly, it was Everton’s first away league win in 2024 - putting that terrible run to bed will be a relief to Sean Dyche and company.
Furthermore, it also meant Everton are now unbeaten in their last four games in the league, with two victories and two draws making it a fine run of form.
Sports News Blitz’s Jon Shea offers his analysis on Everton’s performance.
Holding on to a two-goal lead, finally
I am sure when Michael Keane lashed in the second goal, all Everton fans' minds flashed back to the horror shows against Bournemouth and Aston Villa earlier in the campaign.
But this time Everton held on, comfortably too in the end. Despite the home side having the higher share of possession, the Toffees just could not be broken down.
As Alan Shearer described it on Match of the Day afterwards, they were simply “too streetwise” for the Tractor Boys. Ipswich did not manage a shot on target until the 81st minute and only managed one more after that.
Everton could even have added a couple more to their tally if Dominic Calvert-Lewin had his shooting boots on. The Englishman had two glorious one-on-one efforts but was unable to convert the chances and make the scoreline more handsome.
Concerningly, Calvert-Lewin has often been criticised for his inability to finish chances like that, as he never seems comfortable running through.
Nevertheless, it was comfortable for Dyche’s side on this occasion and another three points on the board for the Toffees.
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Everton becoming quiet again
For too long now, the background noise out of Goodison Park has been too loud, about boardroom uncertainty in particular.
But now there seems to be an answer with the Friedkin Group’s takeover of Everton to be imminently formalised. Soon, Farhad Moshiri’s disastrous tenure at the helm could be over.
The process is reportedly going ‘smoothly’, which is not a word often used to describe Everton.
What the Friedkin Group offers is yet to be seen, but Everton fans will certainly say they are relieved considering how long it has been dragged out.
The stability of the club that is hopefully to come will reflect on the pitch, and you may say it already has considering the club has certainly had a lift of late.
Next up?
Coming up for Everton is a home meeting against their former manager Marco Silva and his Fulham side who have started the season strongly.
That is followed by back-to-back away trips against West Ham and Southampton before the international break. If the positive results continue, the Toffees can potentially start looking up the table rather than down.
The Ipswich result must be used as a catalyst for those upcoming away trips in order to turn them into away victories as they are definitely ‘winnable’.
Sean Dyche has had his critics this season, and there is uncertainty around his future with his contract running out at the end of the campaign. The pressure will, however, ease if he can carry on winning games of football.
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