Everton are such an interesting team to document, given how wildly unpredictable they are, and admittedly always have been.
Whilst silverware success has evaded them for decades now, they still never know when they are beaten, and over the years have claimed huge scalps and enjoyed unprecedented runs of form against all the odds.
This season, however, has seen them reach new levels of ridiculousness.
Enduring a points deduction, which happened to be the harshest in the history of the English top flight, they have taken that ruling and made the Premier League look embarrassing with the speed with which it has been made redundant.
Sean Dyche has worked miracles, with his playing staff showing steadfast loyalty and commitment to undertake his requests with speed and precision.
Few have benefitted from the 52-year-old’s Merseyside entry than Dwight McNeil, who would have been delighted to see his former boss at Burnley return to his side. Having impressed last season, his recent form stands as further proof of this.
Now, pundit Tony Cascarino has sought to offer his praise for the 23-year-old, speaking live on talkSPORT this morning: ‘Sean Dyche is doing a great job at Everton, partly because the squad complements him so well. They are a team of giants: Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, James Tarkowski, Amadou Onana, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Dominic Calvert-Lewin . . . it’s no wonder no Premier League team won more aerial duels this weekend.
‘Dyche has them well organised and getting balls into the box, which is where Dwight McNeil comes in with his wand of a left foot. He reminds me of Glyn Hodges in the Eighties when Wimbledon were very direct.”
‘He was the one player who had the guile and the delivery. McNeil’s delivery is so good that someone is going to get on the end of it — he needs big targets to hit. Like Hodges, he is the luxury player, the odd one out who makes it all work.’
How is Dwight McNeil playing for Everton this season?
Whilst luxury player might be a harsh title to bestow upon the £20m man, given just how hard he works for the side, it does make sense given the immense quality he boasts in that left foot.
With four goal contributions in his last four games, it seems finally fans are being treated to his full potential.
McNeil had endured a tough start to the season, struggling for fitness after overcoming an injury that kept him out of their first few fixtures.
Well, the wide man is thriving now, with his 7.20 average rating in the Premier League sparkling proof of this. Such a figure is buoyed by his tireless creativity, as he pairs his 1.5 key passes per game with 1.6 tackles and 4.9 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.
To earn such a glittering comparison will delight the former Clarets man, who will seek to leave a lasting legacy at Everton to surpass the one Hodges left with AFC Wimbledon.
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