Silva’s First Season
GWLADYS
In evaluating the tactical
overhaul of a manager into his
first season in a new job I always
find it can be both challenging
and somewhat unfair on the
manager in question. While there
are undoubtedly overarching
principles they seek to get to
achieve they are also working in
conditions, which are very much
not of their making.
Silva’s
First Season
By Catcherintherye
As the one year mark
for Silva’s appointment
comes upon us, a time of
reflection is undoubtedly
seen within the fanbase
and the club.
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In Silva’s case he inherited a
squad that was something of
a collage of the previous four
managers while having to
integrate six of his own signings
into the mix. The idea that
you see the end product for a
manager within a season is an
idea to be resisted. That being
said you can get a glimpse of
how a manager wants a team to
play. While such performances
have been all too sporadic (and
arrived at too late in the season
to make more than a cursory
difference to the overall season)
the wins against Manchester
United, Arsenal, and Chelsea
offer reasonable grounds for
optimism for Silva and Everton.
They also offer something of a
blueprint for what he is trying to
achieve at the club.
While there have been some
attempts to try to paint Silva as
a natural successor to the Iberian
philosophy espoused initially
by Roberto Martinez, the truth
is that he operates a far more
mixed approach to game tactics
than Martinez. While possession
is certainly valued and he wishes
his players to be comfortable on
the ball he is also not scared to
have his players play in a more
direct, long manner from deep.
In recent weeks both Jordan
Pickford and Michael Keane
have posed reasonable attacking
threat by playing long balls up
to centre forward Calvert Lewin
and allowed Everton to turn with 13 goals and a number
defence into attack in a matter of assists as well as being
of seconds.
Everton’s
most
creative
player. Interestingly, he too
A big part of this approach seems to have improved as
has undoubtedly been Silva the season has gone on and
seemingly settling on Calvert looks to be benefitting from
Lewin as his first choice having power and pace in
striker. Earlier in the season front of him who can now
there was an initial trial of more effectively utilize the
Tosun in the position before through balls he plays.
Richarlison was given a
run but neither gave the While there are undoubted
physicality, strength, aerial positives to the season it is
prowess, and mobility that worth mentioning that this
Calvert Lewin has given the has not (as yet) massively
side. Richarlison looks far impacted upon the overall
more comfortable playing points Everton have won.
down the flanks (where he At times Everton have not
is not as closely marked as been ruthless enough and
when he plays centrally) have given up cheap goals
while Tosun increasingly (predominately from set
cuts an isolated figure who pieces) in the first two-thirds
lacks the physical profile of the season. In close games
to be a player at the club in (particularly at Goodison) it
the medium term. From a has meant that Everton have
tactical viewpoint, it is clear not registered enough points
that physicality and mobility from winnable games. While
are important for Silva in a this is not strictly speaking
centre-forward and so too a question of tactics (more
is the ability for the team to one of application) as Silva
be able to counter on a side looks forward the team
quickly.
needs to be more ruthless in
taking chances and tighter in
The other noticeable change defence, if it wants to continue
that Silva has implemented its progression forwards.
this season has been how he
has utilized Gylfi Sigurdsson. The
overall
underlying
In his first season he was statistics are positive for
utilized largely as a player Everton. A range of measures
who played off the left. Silva (shots for/against, possession,
has put him in his preferred aerial dual success and
position (the much discussed amount of time spent in each
number 10 role) and in many third of the pitch reflect very
ways built the rest of the positively for Everton. They
team around Sigurdsson. For range from third to 10th
Silva this was undoubtedly in each of these categories
a brave call, in a league that whereas last season the same
has increasingly moved away measures
show
Everton
from playing with a number ranged from ninth to 19th.
10 (most sides moving Without going into enormous
towards more of a 4-3-3 as detail on each point Everton
opposed to a 4-2-3-1) and are 10th for shots on goal
Sigurdsson has repaid Silva versus 19th last season, eighth
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