Anthony Onifade

Fri 24 March 2023 22:10, UK

Everton have enjoyed a stark renaissance under Sean Dyche in recent weeks, with the club now up to 15th in the Premier League table.

It’s been yet another season of disappointment and turmoil with the Toffees engrossed in another nerve-wracking and needless relegation dogfight.

The Blues sacked Frank Lampard at the end of January and replaced him with Dyche, for which the club have enjoyed an upturn in form, winning 3 and drawing two of his eight games in charge so far.

However, the club’s improvement on the pitch certainly hasn’t halted any of the increasing scrutiny and criticism of the Everton board for their recurring incompetence and lack of strategic planning in leading the club into more calmer waters both on and off the pitch.

The club’s transfer business has certainly been Farhad Moshiri and the board’s biggest Achilles heel in recent seasons. Everton spent over £100m last summer and here at Goodison News, we provide ratings for each of the Toffees’ signings.

Amadou Onana – 7/10

Arguably Everton’s best summer signing and their most prized asset in the squad so far this season, Onana has undergone a stunning upward trajectory in his first season of English football. It’s like every time he plays, he looks every bit a £33.5m player.

The Belgian has consistently proven just how crucial he is and will be to Dyche’s side showcasing his tremendous dynamism, energy, ball-carrying skills and aggression from midfield. If the club manage to remain in the Premier League next season, Onana is the man they must build the squad around in their upcoming summer rebuild.

Conor Coady – 6/10

The 30-year-old joined the Toffees on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, and it was revealed soon after that Everton had the option to make the deal permanent for £4.5m [BBC Sport, 6 October].

The England international enjoyed a fruitful partnership with James Tarkowski under previous boss Frank Lampard, but his form has plummeted since Sean Dyche’s arrival with Michael Keane now the preferred option at centre-back. However, Coady’s leadership, experience and voice remain a crucial component in their quest for Premier League safety and he also still holds a crucial part to play when called upon. He’s simply too big a character to count out.

Dwight McNeil – 6/10

McNeil, signed by the Toffees last summer for £20m [BBC Sport, 28 July], notched his third goal of the season but only his first since October in the 1-0 over Brentford on 11 March and pundit Clinton Morrison [Sky Sports, 11 March, 5:19 pm] argued that the fleet-footed forward’s talents should warrant him more goals, especially after a “magnificent” one against the Bees.

And he’s absolutely right, a player of McNeil’s unique quality with that talented left foot should be getting him more goals, as well as assists. He hasn’t been bad but he hasn’t been great too, struggling to provide any attacking quality on a consistent basis. Still, Dyche will continue to keep the faith in him having worked with him at Burnley. The question is, can he consistently repay that faith in the coming weeks?

Idrissa Gueye – 5/10

The 33-year-old rejoined the Toffees from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £2m last summer as Frank Lampard attempted to rebuild his midfield for this season.

However, the experienced midfielder has failed to live up to his billing so far in what’s been an arguably disappointing return to the Premier League for him. Gueye has looked like a shadow of the player that lit up Goodison in his first period at the club and has regularly struggled to provide the security needed for his defence in midfield.

He’s regularly put his team in needless trouble with silly fouls and giveaways in possession. For a player as experienced as he is, he’s been disappointing.

James Garner – 4/10

The 21-year-old ace signed last summer for £15m has struggled to impose himself in the Toffees setup since his move and has regularly been blighted by injuries since his move, being restricted to just 6 substitute appearances.

However, given his age, midfield profile and potential, the Toffees fans and Dyche should not give up on him just yet. If they can get him to the levels he showed at Nottingham Forest last season, he could prove every bit worth the £15m outlay.

James Tarkowski – 8/10

Sorry, Onana. Tarkowski has been Everton’s best signing this summer, a masterstroke addition by Lampard. A leader of men, a consistent and reliable heart of the defence and a player who gives everything even when his team is losing games. Tarkwoski’s presence at the back is unstoppable and something the Toffees simply cannot do without.

Helped the club to seven clean sheets so far this campaign, whilst also registering 1.2 interceptions, 1.2 tackles and an astonishing 5.4 clearances per game, all whilst winning 63% of his total duels and 72% of his aerial duels [SofaScore]. A defensive monster and Dyche’s MVP once again.

Ruben Vinagre – 2/10

Signed on loan from Sporting last summer, Vinagre has struggled to establish himself in the Toffees squad all season making just two substitute appearances. When Dyche has been left with restricted quality options at left-back, he’s tended to side with centre-back Ben Godfrey rather than the Portuguese defender which is quite telling of his apparent qualities. A failed loan.

Neal Maupay – 2/10

Another one of Moshiri’s biggest transfer failures.

The Toffees signed the Frenchman from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer for £15m [BBC Sport, 26 August] but the forward has massively struggled to set his Everton career alight so far this season, just registering a single goal from his 21 games in all competitions.

Maupay has fallen well down the pecking order under Sean Dyche’s management with the former Burnley boss favouring both Demarai Gray and Ellis Simms over him in the Toffees XI.

And a move to Serie A may well be in the offing [Twitter Tuesday, 21 March] for a striker who’s looked a complete shadow of the hitman who produced eight goals and 2 assists for the Seagulls. Failure.