David Moyes has got Everton fans talking after switching up Everton’s system against Leeds United on Monday.
The Toffees drew 1-1 with Leeds at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, meaning it’s now five games without a win at home.
It is concerning the way Everton have started to falter at their new home, and Moyes could really do with getting a win on the board to avoid the notion of a psychological barrier forming.
Everton fans, who was your standout performer in the 1-1 draw with Leeds? 🤔
Perhaps one way to do this will be to start using the system he changed to against Leeds more regularly.
The move to three central defenders and wing-backs saw Everton look much better, and have more of the ball. It also nullified Leeds.
Maybe it worked well because Leeds were playing the same system.
But some fans now want to see the wing-backs system stay – and here’s an XI David Moyes ought to consider if he does.
The alternative Everton starting XI David Moyes must consider
The return of Jarrad Branthwaite for Everton is really positive, and against Leeds he looked like he hadn’t even been absent for that long.
It was a commanding and composed display, and fans are already calling for him to start games again.
And there is scope for him playing on the left of a three, with James Tarkowski in the middle and Jake O’Brien on the right. Everton have great centre-back options and it makes sense to lean into them.
If Everton are to play with wing-backs, then surely Adam Aznou comes in to replace Vitaliy Mykolenko, who has been questioned over his offensive quality.
Should David Moyes play with a back three and wing-backs more regularly for Everton?
Here's an XI the manager could go with after the switch-up vs Leeds… 🤔
Fans have long been critical of Mykolenko now, and Aznou’s buccaneering style could be much more effective. And he’d have Brathwaite mopping up behind him.
In midfield, James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye seem like natural picks.
Then Moyes could go with two number 10s, or inside forwards, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are both great between the lines and should be considered to play off Thierno Barry.
James Justin praised Dewsbury-Hall after Everton 1-1 Leeds, commenting specifically on the way he found space between the lines.
Formation change could hand Adam Aznou a chance
Moyes matching up Leeds on Monday was really interesting, and it was clearly a positive change by the manager.
And one man the change will have intrigued was Aznou, who’s made just one cameo appearance for Everton so far since his summer move.
Mykolenko is simply not good enough when it comes to contributing in the final third, which is something full-backs need to be doing now.
Maybe Aznou hasn’t been playing because Moyes doesn’t fully trust the youngster at left-back. But the wing-back position would alleviate the defensive responsibility, and allow him to express himself more.
Aznou talked up his one-vs-one dribbling previously, and him playing as a wing-back would allow him to showcase this ability.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
