Leeds United 1 -1 Everton
There were many painful features of Everton’s 2021-22 season but one of the salient ones was a marked shortage of draws. The Blues finished 16th last season with 11 victories; Brighton, who managed their highest ever Premier League placing of ninth only won one more game. A key difference? The Seagulls drew 15 of their matches; in other words, when they couldn’t win they made sure they didn’t lose, something Everton found very difficult last season, especially away from home.
It’s for that reason that, as frustrating as it is to have given up a one-goal lead in successive matches, the important thing was that Frank Lampard’s side got something out of visits to Brentford and Leeds in the space of three days. If they can do the same in their next two games, against Liverpool and Arsenal, it would be a further indication of stabilisation and progress under the relatively new manager.
And there have been clear signs of progress in the last two outings — evidence that a seemingly toothless forward trio of wingers can fashion and score goals; that in addition to the blossoming Anthony Gordon, young players like Nathan Patterson and Amadou Onana are visibly growing into the roles; that even if forced upon him to a degree by injury, Lampard is able to adapt his formation to accommodate three in midfield; and that the spirit, the feistiness and the determination that characterised so much of last season’s successful battle against the drop is still there.
Like the Gtech Community Stadium, where Brentford had spanked Manchester United 4-0 a week before Everton went down there on Saturday, Elland Road is not an easy place to go at the moment, even though Leeds barely escaped relegation themselves last season.
Jesse Marsch’s men had won their first two home games of this season, the second a high-intensity, comprehensive dismantling of Chelsea 3-0. Under the passionate American coach, the Lilywhites have retained much of the athletic and dynamic posture they had under Marcelo Bielsa and recruited impressively despite having lost arguably their two best players in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.
Lampard was expecting a fast-paced and intense encounter, he geared his charges up for it accordingly and he was rewarded with a performance that never lacked for effort even if it sometimes lacked composure, particularly in possession in the second half. He elected not to use any of his five available substitutes &8211; another indication that we still need reinforcements before the deadline; the bench was painfully short on game-changing options &8211; and some leggy players gutted it out to the end, leaving the field feeling perhaps as though they should have grabbed all three points given the two chances they had in the final 10 minutes.
With Mason Holgate injured, Lampard opted for a 4-3-3 formation for the first time this season, with Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko as full-backs either side of James Tarkowski and Conor Coady.
New signing Neal Maupay was the victim of the Bank Holiday and a bizarre Premier League ruling that required his registration for the match to have been completed one full working day before this evening’s fixture and had to watch on from the sidelines.
That meant Demarai Gray, Gordon and Dwight McNeil starting as a forward trio once more and the latter two were involved as Everton took the lead with their first effort on goal.
McNeil did well to get to the ball ahead of a Leeds defender and poke it to Iwobi and the Nigerian dissected the home defence with a perfectly-weighted ball which Gordon picked up and guided through the Illan Meslier's legs.
Rodrigo came within a whisker of levelling a few minutes later but failed to make any contact on Jack Harrison’s cross before having to go off with a suspected shoulder dislocation sustained when he came together with Pickford in the 28th minute.
With Marsch’s half-time team talk ringing in their ears, the home side came out much stronger at the start of the second period and Brenden Aaronson worked Pickford for the first time with a powerful drive in the first minute following the restart.
Five minutes later, a cross from the Leeds right came all the through Harrison but his tame shot was easily dealt with by the Blues’ keeper, but the warnings weren’t heeded and the visitors’ lead was wiped out five minutes after that.
Pickford’s clearance came straight back through midfield to Sinisterra and he took an early shot that wrong-footed the keeper and crept inside the post to make it 1-1.
Rather than fold, Everton held their own even if they were careless in possession in midfield at times and McNeil dragged a shot wide before Gordon hesitated a fraction too long before sliding Gray in for a one-on-one chance against Meslier which he successfully converted. Unfortunately, the linesman’s flag cut short the Toffees’ celebrations and there was to be no reprieve from VAR’s arbitrary lines.
At the other end, Gelhardt missed the target from 10 yards out and Pickford had to come up huge to thwart the same player a few minutes later. Alex Iwobi had dithered and been dispossessed near the centre-circle, Tarkowski stumbled over the ball as it was played into the box the England keeper somehow got an out-stretched hand to the eventual shot from Gelhardt that was otherwise destined for goal.
Though visibly tiring and with no help coming from the substitutes’ bench which remained inactive throughout, Everton almost won it in the final 10 minutes or so.
First, a corner from the left skipped through to Onana who controlled it but fired his shot straight into Rasmus Kristensen’s head from point-blank range. Then Gordon sent Patterson into the clear down the channel but the young Scot smashed his effort straight at the goalkeeper who blocked it away to safety from the hosts’ perspective.
After the harrowing events of last season, on the face of it, three points from 15 represents a meagre return, particularly when you consider who the opponents are in the next two fixtures. It’s conceivable that Everton would still be sitting on three points when West Ham come to town on 18th September, although you wouldn’t bet against them picking up something from either Saturday’s derby or the trip to Emirates… and that’s even before we know who might come in to the squad before the deadline.
Regardless, there was enough on show this evening and at Brentford to suggest that this isn’t a relegation-calibre team under Lampard. There is evidence of a plan and that the players have bought into the manager’s methods. If the arc of improvement continues, that will inevitably turn into points and, if they continue to pick them up away from home and capitalise on Fortress Goodison at home, it should be enough to see the Toffees safe this season, barring any unforeseen disasters.
Reader Comments (47)
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2 Posted 31/08/2022 at 06:54:31
I was shouting for subs but, in the clear light of day, I realise our bench would have brought nothing to the team.
Our problem for their goal was defending from the half-way line at the start of the second half. Once they scored, we pushed up 20 yards and we played okay again
3 Posted 31/08/2022 at 06:57:26
I watched the game on a Thai stream in Italian! But as you said, there is improvement.
I said after the Brentford game that we are only a couple of players short of a decent team but frankly was amazed at the negativity.
Lampard is putting in a good spine, but a big test will be this weekend. Any result would be welcome but if we can take all three points it will be significant!
4 Posted 31/08/2022 at 06:57:41
Didn't use any subs, despite players being on bookings. This is a long hard season written all over it, and the lack of any midfield control or goal threat should have everyone worried.
This was against Leeds, a relegation rival. And we looked feeble, as we did against Forest. Tougher games still to come up – played 5, 3 points.
It's a results-based business, and I thought Frank could turn us around. But I can't see him making it past the West Ham game.
That first international break is the marker of where we are and, as a club, we are miles behind. Blame the board, players, medical team, scouting set up and manager. They're all responsible for this.
5 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:00:48
Hard work alone will always earn a certain amount of points a season, hopefully when the team gels a bit more and we have a full quota of playing staff playing in their proper positions, them draws will become wins.
6 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:10:06
7 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:17:32
All our matches so far have been tight affairs and there do seem to be signs of progress, although when winning we seem to shrink very quickly into allowing teams to come at us. Confidence is a hard thing to create when we've suffered the 12 months that we've had.
433 seemed to have us more balanced and we just need to keep the ball a bit better at times. Onana, Gueye and Iwobi (with Doucoure to come in too) is a very decent looking midfield; something we've not had for a good few years and it should allow us a bit more control and solidity in matches.
I'm not sure I feel quite so confident as Lyndon that relegation battles will not embroil us this season but there does seem a plan. We are becoming harder to beat and that is a good start on the road to recovery.
8 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:26:19
9 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:32:26
Lots of encouraging individual performances. We just need to add the goals. Hopefully Gueye + a striker with the potential to be better than what we've got will turn up very soon.
I also think Leeds are a very difficult opponent at Elland Road and that's a good point on the road.
10 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:40:50
A little more relaxed about things after last night, especially having seen how close we came to winning. It's about results at the end of the day, and Frank needs to start picking up wins. One win in 3 months was what did for Rafa.
11 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:44:39
Optimism has to be tempered by the realisation that such effort was only just enough to take a point in both away games at Brentford and Leeds as our lads in midfield and attack ran out of gas and large portions of the latter stages og both games were played in our half.
Against better teams with more potency, it would not have been enough and in both games the home team could feel that they did enough to merit a win.
However, Frank Lampard's refusal to make a sub (which I presume was his way of undelining the paucity of options to his board) could have cost us. Gray looked shattered as did Gordon. Oe of them should have been taken off as not only were they no longer closing down Leeds attacks in their infancy(as they had first half) but Gordon was on a yellow and both could have had an injury being so fatigued.
Lampard seems to have instilled more grit. I think Tark and Coady have helped in this respect. Onana also set his stall out early and though he tired, he looks a good player. Patterson got MOM but McNeil defended heroically (better than he attacked).
The question is whether we can create and take chances to win games. Maupay has a lot on his plate.
12 Posted 31/08/2022 at 07:54:18
Three things were highlighted last night. 1. Our squad has no depth. 2. We need someone to control the midfield. 3. A goal scorer is essential.
13 Posted 31/08/2022 at 08:09:20
14 Posted 31/08/2022 at 08:18:53
Obviously the bench was uninspiring, and this is a worry, but well done to the 11 on the pitch a lot more of the same will be required onSaturday.
15 Posted 31/08/2022 at 08:42:52
16 Posted 31/08/2022 at 09:23:50
There is an improvement though strikers win matches and we need Mauphey scoring and DCL back in this team asap.
Remove goals from an average team and you have a relegation battle. We have lost Richie and DCL injured.
Overall team performance has improved, we aren't carrying any passengers, all of the 11 last night put a shift in.
I disagree with Lyndon's formation. It was 451 last night with McNeil almost playing like a 2nd right back for most of the 2nd half.
Fine margins in the prem between about 12 clubs. Looking at our next 6 games we are going to have to score a lot more goals to get points on the board.
17 Posted 31/08/2022 at 09:55:12
I'm with much of the sentiment here. It's getting better, slowly. Anyone who expected a quick magic fix is living in cloud cuckoo land. I also wondered about lack of subs, but wonder if it was more about not upsetting the balance that was, just about, clinging on. Bring on someone 10-15 mins from the end (especially while we're defending heroically) and there could easily be a few minutes of bedding in - enough for them to pounce? Just a thought.
18 Posted 31/08/2022 at 10:28:50
Gana is going to help he midfield, he will add a boost of confidence to Onana and Iwobi. Maupay and DCL back soon will give us more strength up front and allow more desperately needed options from the bench. A combination of those two things will see us controlling games better, wins will follow.
19 Posted 31/08/2022 at 10:47:00
Like that mate, wished I had thought of it. Keep 'em coming need a bit of clever wit on TW amid the doom and gloom of some of our throng !
Never like slagging off any of our highly paid players but sometimes they deserve it. Tom Davies proved yet again that Bette Davies was a far better player in his position. He has developed ball watching nearly as accomplished as Gomes, I hate the way with the ball about 10 yards away and he has no intention of chasing it, where he lifts a leg about eighteen inches as if he had just missed out !
20 Posted 31/08/2022 at 11:01:13
Although we certainly look more solid, we are still surrendering possession far too easily and aren't clinical enough. Onana could and should have scored as was the case at Villa Park. Patterson should have finished that chance, too. That is the difference: better teams take their chances. Maupay will help but we need a firing DCL back and I still think we need more attacking options before the deadline tomorrow.
21 Posted 31/08/2022 at 11:26:13
Maupay and Gueye in that team will make a massive difference. I hope Iwobi continues in his current role as that will allow Gordon to continue what appears to be a free role.
It's great seeing us grind out hard earned points that last season would have been a loss. This is a work very much in progress but at long last we can see the beginning of a team identity.
22 Posted 31/08/2022 at 12:00:06
23 Posted 31/08/2022 at 13:01:17
24 Posted 31/08/2022 at 13:07:35
Discounting the next two games, I am optomistic.
25 Posted 31/08/2022 at 13:27:51
Do we look capable of keep a regular clean sheet or scoring a couple of goals to win a match?
We back off far too much for my liking, and that invariably gets punished in this league. The 2nd half was inevitable – succomb to concede, à la Saturday.
The team for all its better collectiveness, has a pityful number of goal scoreres you can hang your hat on. Players with one goal a season dominate our squad.
To stay out of trouble you're looking at 40-50 goals. So how are we getting to those numbers with what we have?
It is better, but we are still bang in trouble unless you get that quality defensive midfielder to break up the play, try and get more control of the midfield. And more attacking threat to win games.
The next 48 hours is huge for this club, as we can't afford to go down.
26 Posted 31/08/2022 at 13:42:10
In my choosing Everton in 1976, for many of those years goals scored have been low (we know the years we scored). In the Premier League era it's been dreadful.
To underline this we all know Greame Sharp is Everton's all-time scorer. Salah across the Park has smashed that goal tally already in just a few seasons.
27 Posted 31/08/2022 at 16:01:02
28 Posted 31/08/2022 at 16:06:40
29 Posted 31/08/2022 at 16:24:32
Sharp? All time scorer? That'll come as a surprise to Dixie Dean's family.
Puts Salah in the shade too.
Incidentally, Fred Pickering is almost always overlooked when talking about goal scorers, he managed 56goals in 97 appearances before injury stymied his Everton career.
30 Posted 31/08/2022 at 16:25:33
31 Posted 31/08/2022 at 16:43:20
32 Posted 31/08/2022 at 17:25:55
The bad... our passing is still very poor,we sit far too deep and just invite needless pressure,we still rush our game in the final third,our set plays are fruitless it now seems, poor substitutions or none it all?
I generally think that we'll improve with Frank at the helm but I also think that our gaffer will always play it safe and our trophy drought will just continue...we just need to be braver in games in general.
33 Posted 31/08/2022 at 17:59:24
34 Posted 31/08/2022 at 18:02:33
And I don't know how Gray's goal didn't count (well, I do – because it went to VAR and they drew imaginary lines to his wrist). That offside call was absolutely rubbish.
Keeping Gordon is a must and it looks like he'll be with us for the season, and hopefully longer - let's get a long-term contract in front of him now that he's happy to sign (preferably without a release clause).
35 Posted 31/08/2022 at 18:07:06
36 Posted 31/08/2022 at 19:00:59
God forbid that we have to put up with the jet engine of negativity until then. We may have made some excellent buys and we may even see Top 10 by the end. I look forward to seeing it.
37 Posted 31/08/2022 at 19:37:55
I think Gary Lineker would come in at second in the goals-per-game ratio but it's all academic. As we all know from Sky et al, football only started in 1992.
38 Posted 31/08/2022 at 20:02:19
I think that's a good way to look at it. It is likely to be a pretty up-and-down season overall. In all honesty, I'm not fussed whether we finish 8th or 14th this season.
What I want to see is a style of play emerging, players being braver and settling into a system, formation, and regular first XI etc that gives me hope of finishing in the Europa League places, winning cups etc. None of that is going to come immediately.
39 Posted 31/08/2022 at 20:10:05
There is improvement. We don't fold or collapse. I was informed on these very pages that we were doomed to defeat against the high-intensity Leeds. We contained them and actually controlled them first half. They obviously got a rocket at half time and we tired. But again, we didn't fold. Likewise, I was told we should prepare to be defeated at home by Nottingham Forest.
You risk defeat in every game of football as much as you risk winning or drawing.
If we look at this strategically, we are picking up points. A very good point made by Lyndon, was made by my son last season. We didn't turn enough eventual defeats into draws. We're doing that now and the wins will come. Even the 2 defeats have been close matches. Chelsea more so than Villa I would say.
We generally look more solid. We are not lying down as easily and we are standing up for ourselves. Even when a dick of an opposition manager is trying to influence an already incompetent official by continuously showing him his latest Apple I-Watch. We get it, you've got a new watch.
Finally we have multiple leaders on the pitch. Coady and Tarkowski constantly barking out the orders and organising the team. We've lacked that for so long.
I'm confident for Saturday. But then I always am. If I keep saying it, it will happen. I particularly want to see Onana say hello to Henderson.
I have to mention the "offside" goal. My instinct at first glance was offside, but it clearly wasn't. I don't know where he got it from or how reliable the source, but my son showed me a feed that claimed the VAR could determine so went off shadows to make the decision. I hope not. If we are making decisions off shadows, it's just ridiculous.
First win on Saturday.
40 Posted 31/08/2022 at 20:19:55
You probably know a microchip in the ball for offside at last is going to be used now in the Champions League and World Cup, no doubt closely followed by the Premier League so it will cut out the "It's only Everton" discretionary big calls, especially v the Top 6. Should really start it after the World Cup break but, failing that, it will be next season so some inept idiot in a van can't do as he pleases.
41 Posted 01/09/2022 at 00:21:18
Football tends to complicate matters when more competent officials supported by technology might be a better solution rather than trying to fix it with technology alone.
Microchips in the England versus Iran opener. Makes me feel nervous and suspicious!!
42 Posted 01/09/2022 at 00:44:39
But we need goals and thus players with goal-taking instincts.
Yes, I'm talking about strikers…. c'mon Frank & Kev: please make it happen!
43 Posted 01/09/2022 at 07:21:09
Training will continually reflect the play on the pitch. There will be a high degree of players interpreting their roles and deciding themselves what they need to do. Players brought in have the necessary robustness for this. This licence of free expression particularly suits Iowbi and players like Gordon, Patterson, Tarkowski, Coady, Nano are increasingly buying into that when the formation is one they know, Mykolenko and McNeil will also buy into it. Gueye will love it and a hard working Maupay will benefit as well. Gordon is officially Richarlison's replacement.
This is the way I see it, but still not sure how much it is design by Frank or just him stumbling into this style of play. He does want to play open attacking football, but the extent that the players are having to cover the weakness of such a style of play or by Frank's game management is open to question.
44 Posted 01/09/2022 at 11:02:09
Microchips in the ball will not solve the VAR armpit, shoulder, shoelace offside decision unless they start putting microchips in the players!
How hard are they making it for themselves? Just call 'level' onside and let's all start watching goals go into the net instead of bureaucrats that have never kicked a ball before in the lives further ruin the beautiful game.
45 Posted 01/09/2022 at 17:15:56
46 Posted 02/09/2022 at 01:04:22
That said, I'm impressed with the reported profile of those we've signed - none of whom, Idrissa aside, I admittedly know anything about.
It's where we still are folks, after thirty years of pantomime acting by the worst ever owner/chairman of a Premier League club, and for the past six years the performance of the only alleged owner who could possibly have wasted £hundreds of millions in backing that very same muppet.
40 points is the target. Let's see when and if we get there, and who's still standing at the time.
47 Posted 02/09/2022 at 13:12:47
Ah, they use a synchronised optical system with it. Simples.
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1 Posted 31/08/2022 at 05:49:34
It's great to see we've matched Leeds's effort. The use of younger players and possibly higher intensity fitness training has brought the team up to shape to compete.
Iwobi once again with great vision for the killing pass. If Gueye comes in, he would even have more freedom to do the work up top.
Not sure why Lampard didn't use any of the subs. Gray look exhausted towards the end. Surely a youngster can press and chase down the ball?