What do Everton need to go to the next level?

(Written by Oliver Cooper)

When Marco Silva was sacked as Everton manager on 5th December 2019, the search for a new man to take over at Goodison Park centred on a different class of manager from anything they had previously encountered in the Premier League era. Owner Moshiri's lofty ambitions for Everton had taken a tumble with the appointment of Sam Allardyce the previous season, and it was clear that the fans were expecting bigger things from the next manager.

Whilst the ship was steadied in the interim charge of Duncan Ferguson, Everton began negotiating with management royalty in Carlo Ancelotti. Whilst Moshiri had looked to take a step up in the class of manager he was appointing, by taking exciting managers such as Ronald Koeman and the aforementioned Marco Silva, who both raised eyebrows by defying expectations at Southampton and Watford respectively, Ancelotti is truly on another level.

Old and new faces have come together under Ancelotti.

His footballing C.V. stands him amongst the best managers in Champions League history, alongside a host of domestic triumphs everywhere he has managed. From a neutral perspective, it was nice to see that the abundance of talent amongst Everton's ranks looked to finally start stepping into the limelight and start performing.

Everton recently dropped points against West Ham United, following an inspired performance from Angelo Ogbonna, who consistently denied The Toffee's forwards. The result sees them in sitting in 4th place. Despite the disappointing result, Everton can still claim to be in a real position to kick on and try to mount a challenge. So, the question is, what has Carlo done to put Everton in this great position by the beginning of the New Year, and what is it they need to go to the next level?

Carlo Ancelotti is one of only three managers to win the Champions League three times, alongside Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley.

How has Carlo improved Everton?

Of course, one must look at the summer recruitment at Goodison Park. Carlo's C.V. demands as much money that can be spared for him to spend on the faces he wants to bring into the club. Marquee signing James Rodriguez seems an obvious place to start, but also bringing another former player of his, Napoli's Allan, to sure up the spine of his team. This calibre of signing seems fit for a manager of Carlo's calibre. However, you would be a fool to think that Everton have shot up the table purely because of good recruitment. Yes, James, Allan and even Doucoure all represent a bit more class on the team sheet, but Carlo makes all of his players better through excellent man management and by developing an attractive, disciplined tactical system.

Carlo's coaching ability is second to none in world football, he is a true football genius and the translation of his philosophy is evident in how Everton evolved under him. Whilst 4-4-2 is viewed somewhat as a 'Dinosaur' formation in football these days, Carlo (alongside another key asset, assistant manager and club legend Duncan Ferguson) breathes a fresh air of class and confidence into it. Gone are the days of slow build up play, employed by Marco Silva during his tenure, and in its place comes direct and powerful passing play into the channels.

Defenders are used to playing against one striker in the Premier League more often than not, so employing two of the best to keep them busy and create openings for each other cannot be underestimated. Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin really are two of the best in the league, and you would be a fool to underestimate either of them. Together they form a highly intimidating front pairing that can hurt you in so many different ways.

Strike partnerships have been a dying breed for the best part of a generation, although Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin are stating a serious case for their revival. Calvert-Lewin often sits high up the pitch with his Brazilian counter-part sitting a little deeper to collect any second balls or knock downs by the former. Both run the channels relentlessly, so long ball and more intricate through balls are both an option, and whilst Calvert-Lewin would look to be the danger man in the air, Richarlison is equally as formidable with his head.

Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have brought strike-partnerships back into fashion.

Gone too is the intense high press of Marco Silva, replaced with disciplined and diligent banks of four which guard Jordan Pickford's net. Whilst they are incredibly dangerous up front, I do really enjoy Yerry Mina and a resurgent Michael Keane, both of whom have clearly had a level of confidence instilled in them.

Replacing the midfield was clearly a key edict of the summer transfer window. Try as he did, any combination of Schneiderlin, Davies, Sigurdsson, Delph and Gbamin was simply not dynamic enough to keep up with the rest of the team and the way Carlo wanted them to play. Solution? Buy two players he knows and trusts, and one who Everton have held a long standing interest and scouted extensively for years in Doucoure.The benefits are there for all to see, Everton are a far better team than they were before the summer. One more positive for Everton is a fully fit Andre Gomes. As we saw this evening, he is a really great midfield player who offers something a little different to the rest of the central midfielders.

However, the biggest compliment I can pay Mr. Ancelotti is that the mentality of his team seems to have taken a dramatic shift for the better. This is illustrated by their talisman, Richarlison. Barcelona reportedly bid a massive £85 million to bring him to the Nou Camp. Much to my surprise, neither Everton nor Richarlison flinched, both were far too interested in the project being undertaken at Goodison Park, and the bid was rejected. There has been no fallout or anger from Richarlison, no adverse affect on his performances, no agitating for the move.

Could we have said the same if Richarlison was under Sam Allardyce? David Moyes? Even Marco Silva? Would the Brazilian have turned down the opportunity of a lifetime under any of those coaches? I think he gets on the private jet straight to Catalonia 99 times out of a 100. Unless that one time is under his current manager, Carlo Ancelotti. I believe Carlo has instilled a belief in his players that, with time, this team can achieve something really special, and that was why Richarlison stuck around.

Richarlison was the subject of an £85,000,000 bid from Barcelona in the summer, according to Sky Sports.

So, should we take them seriously as title contenders?

This is certainly the closest Everton have been to the top of the table for a long time, and I highly praise Carlo and everyone at Everton for the work they have done so far this season.

But the big question is, can they actually contend? For me, if there's ever a season to do it, it is this season. City look way off their usual pace and the air of invincibility surrounding Liverpool is fading. United, Chelsea and Spurs have all been touted as potential usurpers to Liverpool's crown, showing just how volatile it is at the top of the Premier League right now. Only seven points separate the leaders and Southampton in 9th.

Now that the festive period is drawing to a close, we will start to see two or three teams pull away from the pack and stake their claim for a run at the title. The game at West Ham was a crucial test of their metal, and they should be disappointed with the result, but I personally think what's stopping Everton being a true contender is their record against the bigger teams in the division. They show some level of consistency over the weaker sides in the division, other than a couple of rough days out at St. James' Park and St. Mary's, but notably struggled against Manchester United and Liverpool.

Those are their biggest adversaries currently, and in order to be taken a bit more seriously by the media, Everton would need to go out and outclass another top contender such as a United or a Liverpool. Edging them in a cagey affair would convince nobody, Everton need to show that they deserve a seat at the table with the other big boys.

I am also worried about their depth. On paper, Everton's midfield roster is crowded, but how many of those players can actually do the job that Carlo wants them to do should Doucoure or Allan get injured? I worry for the depth of attacking talent too, I like Bernard, but can I see him as the answer off the bench in those gritty games? No. I'm not massive on Iwobi and certainly unconvinced by Cenk Tosun who looks certain to leave sooner rather than later.

Look at the other teams vying for top spot, Liverpool's depth is being tested now, and whilst not as impressive as they are at full strength, it is clear that they are still incredibly dangerous. Manchester United's bench is stacked; Mata, Cavani, Greenwood, Matic, Van de Beek and of course Dean Henderson to name just a few. I don't look at the Everton bench and see many players who can come on and change the game or that intimidate me.

Finally, Jordan Pickford. He is simply not good enough to win a Premier League title, or even contend. Liverpool were unhappy with Karius, and went out and replaced him with arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now. The result? A massive boost of confidence in the defence and an even bigger boost in keeping goals from hitting the back of a Liverpool net. Everton need to do the same. Great goalkeepers win points for their teams, Pickford drops them for Everton. The man leaks goals and does not instil confidence in any of the players in front of him, something crucial if you are to compete for the big trophies. He can be outstanding at times, as we've seen for England, but his consistency should be a serious concern for Carlo and Everton.

It is for these reasons that I personally can't quite see it for Everton this year, but then again, stranger things have happened. They need a very good backup striker, one more system midfielder that's happy to play as a rotation player (perhaps a job for Gbamin), and last but not least, a classy goalkeeper. With these things, and maybe one more marquee class act such as James, I'd be able to back Everton with a bit more seriousness for the top. I expect a top four battle with Spurs, Chelsea and United this year.