David Moyes flaw exposed at Everton as Toffees rank lowest for Premier League metric
Everton’s style of play is not only struggling to get results lately, but it is also a sore sight for the eyes.
David Moyes has Everton in genuine contention for European football this season, and the chances of that will only be amplified if a side who finish in the top six wins the FA Cup.
And when taking that into account, you would think that there is very little reason to highlight anything negative, but the truth of the matter is that there have still been several concerns emerge throughout the campaign.
Not only are Toffees among the lowest scorers in the Premier League, but their ability to make the most of possession has also been incredibly poor.
The latest stats from the current campaign highlight that.
Read more: Everton alarm bells sound in new Premier League reveal
Stats who has Everton’s style of play is not suatainable
You don’t need stats to tell you this, but Everton have not provided much excitement in terms of their football this season.
With that said, the stats certainly amplify why that is such a concern.
As per Opta, Everton average only seven passages of play per game where they complete 10 or more passes, which is the worst in the Premier League.
In fact, a typical sequence for the Toffees consists of just 3.04 completed passes, which is again the lowest of any side in the top flight.
You would think that the lack of passing on display means that the Toffees are incredibly direct in attack, but that is again not the case.
They average just 1.04 direct attacks per game, which is the fourth-worst in the Premier League, with only Fulham, Wolves and Sunderland recording fewer.
And of those direct attacks, only 7.4 per cent have resulted in a goal this season, showcasing the lack of clinical nature they have in their game.
Everton fans may not want to hear the recipe for improvement
How do Everton fix this? Well, it’s simple, at least on paper.
Moyes is the cause of these so-called issues, though it does feel a bit harsh to label them that way, considering they are eighth in the Premier League.
However, the Scotsman has never really been known for his eye-opening style of football, which is what the Toffees are lacking.
This is not to say that Moyes is under threat, nor that he should be sacked, but if Everton want to improve those numbers, moving on from him is going to be the only way.
As for right now, he is doing a fine job, but it may not be long until we see the Toffees target a more progressive manager.
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