The first international break of the season is never a particularly welcome pause in the Premier League season. For Everton fans, it’s even less so. The new campaign only three games old but is seen as the first reference point to assess how the season has gone so far.
Three matches, three defeats, 10 goals conceded and rock bottom tells its own grim story.
The latest tale of woe hit an epic scale at the weekend against Bournemouth. All of that means another period in purgatory for Blues fans. International football does not provide a break from the pain – in many ways it elongates it.
When problems mount, it is hard to see the forest for the trees but much of Everton’s play for 80 minutes on Saturday was the best at Goodison in a long time. Crisp, accurate passing, excellent movement and a brand of easy-on-the-eye football with two new signings playing their role.
Iliman Ndiaye looked the part, consistently terrorising the Bournemouth back line while Tim Iroegbunam offered drive, energy and conviction. There’s a purpose to his play that looks like making him a welcome addition.
They allowed others to thrive. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s play for the most part, was a combination of power and finesse. The late unforeseen devastating problems only came because they could not kill off their opponents – and paid the ultimate price.
Bournemouth might not be the best litmus test for judging a performance but consider the changes Andoni Iraola has made. Afterwards, he said his team were very second best overall, their aggressive pressing totally negated by how Everton played around it.
Sean Dyche has been criticised for taking off Ndiaye and Calvert-Lewin but Ndiaye was making his full Premier League debut and Calvert-Lewin was on the field for much longer than usual. There was more than enough experience on the pitch to ensure Everton closed it out, as they have done many times in the past two seasons.
