Dwight McNeil struggled v Leicester, Sean Dyche has Everton replacement right under his nose in Demarai Gray
Everton missed the chance to move out of the relegation zone after an entertaining 2-2 draw with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Monday night [1 May].
Both sides who have undergone difficult campaigns, started the game in the bottom three but a point was enough to drag Leicester out of the drop zone on goal difference, while Everton stay 19th, one point from safety.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Everton ahead from the penalty spot, but the Foxes fought back with goals from Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy before Alex Iwobi ensured the Toffees shared the spoils.
It is now eight games without a Premier League win for Sean Dyche’s men and just one win in their last eleven which leaves them still rooted to the relegation spots with just four games left of their disastrous season to go.
Everton have several underlying problems hurting their chances of survival, currently possessing the worst goalscoring record in the division with just 27 goals scored from 34 games, and it’s their lack of attacking quality has proven a major cause for concern.
The former Burnley boss has had to persist with the likes of Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil for attacking inspiration since his appointment in late January.
While both players have been admirably trying to pull their weight for the club as they look to secure their Premier League status again for next season, Dyche will have been awfully concerned by the stats of his former protege at Burnley.
McNeil certainly ran his socks off against the Foxes at the King Power, constantly springing attacks with his driving runs and off-the-ball endeavour but failed to conjure up any sort of real influence to aid the returning Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack.
In fact, his stats on the night were dreadful. As per SofaScore, McNeil picked up the worst score of any player to take to the field in East Midlands at a torrid 5.9/10.
During his 90 minutes on the pitch, the 23-year-old winger lost possession of the ball a whopping 27 times, successfully completed just two of his seven dribble attempts, completed just three of his 12 crosses and missed a huge chance which could prove decisive in Everton’s quest for Premier League survival.
To make matters worse, his defensive efforts don’t make for pleasing reading either, winning just three of his 19 total duels, and was dribbled past by a Leicester City player five times – more than any Everton defender put together (3).
It’s certainly understandable for Dyche to rely on a player he knows so well from his time at Turf Moor, but the Everton coach already has a talented player currently waiting in the wings right under his nose, ready to make an impression in Demarai Gray.
Dyche’s loyalty to the likes of McNeil and Michael Keane is admirable but it is evidently clear that they are not making the telling difference Everton desperately need right now. It’s time to change tact against high-flying Brighton this weekend, and that should involve the inclusion of Gray.