Everton’s season did not get off to the best of starts in the Premier League, but they have certainly stabilised now.
Having amassed five points in their last three games, and with a really favourable stretch of fixtures now rolled out ahead of them, Everton manager Sean Dyche will justifiably feel they can now build upwards at last.
If they are to do that though, he will need an upturn in form from plenty of his top players, with stars like James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford underperforming when compared to last campaign.
Their defence has been shockingly open after such a solid prior year, with last match proving to be their first clean sheet in the Premier League this term.
Meanwhile, their attack is being largely carried by one man.
Sean Dyche reveals private Dwight McNeil conversation
Signed under Frank Lampard’s tenure for £20m, Dwight McNeil‘s acquisition was an unassuming one.
After all, he had seldom proven himself a regular creative or goalscoring threat, thought to be prohibited by Burnley’s pragmatic style of play.
However, with that same manager having now unlocked his true attacking potential to kickstart this season, such a notion has been disproven.
Dyche still wants more from the man he has developed though, as he told the Liverpool ECHO: ‘It is still something I speak to him about, the principles of what he does. Not just the play but you as a professional, how are you responding to the setbacks, what is the image you present on a football pitch?
‘If you look at the real elite players around the world, it’s very rare they become affected on the football pitch. So I’ve been speaking to him about that. If it doesn’t work, if it’s not happening, you still do what the team needs, you still play a role in what the team needs and adapting to that.’
Fabrizio Romano said Everton are delighted with McNeil’s progress, and its easy to see why.
Everton are so reliant on Dwight McNeil this season
As mentioned earlier, this Everton team have grown reliant on the tangible attacking exploits of McNeil already.
That is, despite Iliman Ndiaye truly capturing the hearts of his new fanbase, with tricks and skills unlike anything Goodison Park has seen for years.
But, with just a sole Premier League goal contribution thus far, his output pails in comparison to McNeil’s three goals and two assists.
Leading Everton for goals, assists and chances created, with the winger actually fighting for top spot in the entire division for the latter stat, everything good that his team’s attack does come through him, in a new number ten role.
It’s even more startling to note that McNeil has actually had a hand in 71% of his team’s Premier League goals this season, whether it be scoring or assisting.
Firing in screamers and setting up his teammates, hopefully, returning after a much-needed international break, a full-strength side can start to match his levels and drag themselves way up the table.
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