What We Learned: Bournemouth 1 - 1 Everton

Could we not just have one day where the footy was the main focus before we have the chaos of the final days of the transfer window?

Well, no, we couldn’t.

James Tarkowski’s stoppage-time strike snatched a deserved 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, but it was a game overshadowed by the news surrounding Harrison Armstrong.

A point was nevertheless merited and is important, but it’s really not what everyone’s focused on. Anyway, here’s a few things we learned.

‘THERE’S BEEN AN OFFER’

David Moyes did confirm after the match that there has been an offer for Armstrong, and that it will be a “club decision” as to what happens next.

There was plenty of talk before kick-off that Armstrong would not feature in the squad at all, but the teenager did play and he put in a steady performance in the middle of the park. He also teed up an excellent chance, which Thierno Barry squandered (more on that to come).

He is not the finished article by any means, but Evertonians should be the ones who get to enjoy his development. Instead, it could well be Nottingham Forest fans, and that would be a disgrace.

EVERTON CAN CREATE CHANCES

Too often last season, Everton were simply failing to create quality opportunities with any consistency, unless Jack Grealish or Iliman Ndiaye were on their games.

However, even with Ndiaye having an off-day here, Everton created plenty, and they should have been ahead well before Alex Scott put Bournemouth in front.
Djordje Petrovic was in ludicrously good form, and on another day, Everton could easily have scored 3 or 4.

Barry was particularly wasteful, and as good as he was against Preston North End in midweek, he needs to show a more clinical edge.

But, taking the positives, this Everton team can offer a threat and, as we saw, they always stick in it until the end.

THE DEFENCE IS A CONCERN

Signing a right-back will not solve all of Everton’s issues; it’s vital, but it’s not some magic key to turning the Toffees into a better defensive team.

Perhaps because Moyes is wanting his team to be a bit more attacking, or maybe it’s just because Bournemouth are a good attacking unit, but at times, there was acres of space for the Cherries to exploit.

That being said, that mostly came in the second half, when Everton had shuffled the pack and were chasing an equaliser.

But Tarkowski was at fault for Bournemouth’s goal, and even though he atoned with his leveller, he looks increasingly vulnerable to pacy attackers, especially when defending in space.

It’s as a unit, though, that Everton must be better, because they will eventually be punished.

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