David Moyes returns to the Everton bench in a match that signals an ominous message; Sign players in January, or else.
For the first time since 2013, David Moyes was back in the Everton dugout as the manager of the toffees. The match set up to be a classic bounce from a new manager under the Goodison lights at a time the club needed it in a bad way. His first starting eleven in his now second stint saw Calvert-Lewin inserted back into the starting eleven. Ndiaye and Harrison played on the wings with Doucoure leading a midfield three including Mangala and Gueye. The normal back four of Young, Branthwaite, Tarkowski and Mykolenko sat in front of Jordan Pickford in goal.
The welcome back party was brief, as Villa went on the attack early. The 5th minute saw Villa nearly go ahead as Rogers forced a very strong save from Pickford for a shot destined for the bottom right corner. Villa kept coming and nearly scored again in the 17th minute, as Young played a horrific back pass that was jumped on by Ollie Watkins. Pickford closed down the angle as the striker bared down on goal one on one and the shot went narrowly wide.
It was Everton’s turn to attack in the 27th minute, and the blues nearly took the lead through Calvert-Lewin. Perhaps due to his presence on the touchline, Mykolenko played a fantastic ball through to Calvert-Lewin, who just nearly put wide a massive chance to push the toffees in front. Calvert-Lewin would have another chance just before half, as the ball bounced around in the box in front of an empty net. He somehow got to it but only managed a poke and the shot was easily cleared off the line. The story of the first half? Survival. The blues created a couple of chance and didn’t concede, somehow, getting into the break at 0-0.
Unfortunately, that draw would be broken in the 51st minute. Watkins split the Everton backline and fired passed Pickford who got caught in no man’s land. 0-1. A sub came shortly after, as Jack Harrison was mercifully hooked for Jesper Lindstrom. The rest of the second half truly was cagey, with a match that likely should have seen an Onana red card and a penalty after Lindstrom was pushed over in the box during the taking of a corner.
However, no such help from perhaps a slightly maligned officiating crew would come. Even more unfortunately, Everton had a massive chance to equalize in the 93rd minute. Lindstrom crossed the ball in fantastically to find Calvert-Lewin in a fantastic area in the box. However, and maybe not surprisingly, the striker blazed over from close range. Full time, 0-1.
The match, and the words of the new gaffer after the match, signaled a strong message, this squad needs reinforcements in the worst way. With Broja likely going back to Chelsea due to injury, there will be at least one loan spot to play with and hopefully a permanent signing or two coming in. There is money to spend, and Everton are in compliance with PSR for the most recent years. The next couple weeks are crucial now, invest and fight or slink into the sunset.
UTFT!
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