Everton need to utilise the bench better to avoid becoming too predictable

Everton are entering a crucial stage of the season and with 12 league games to go, Europe is still within reach. David Moyes must, however, avoid being too predictable.

Now that the Blues have a full-strength squad at their disposal – excluding Jack Grealish – the starting XI is almost set in stone. With the exception of Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong vying for the Grealish’s slot on the wing, and Jarrad Branthwaite being eased into action, there’s hardly any surprises in Moyes’ matchday lineups.

While that, in itself, is not remotely a cause of concern – most managers tend to stick to their preferred starting XIs for a large chunk of the season – it is the steadfast refusal to efficiently utilise the variety of talent and profiles on the bench which is preventing the Blues from realising their true potential.

Since the likes of Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have returned, Moyes has made five subs in a game only once – while chasing the equaliser against Brighton!

In fact, looking back, even before Dewsbury-Hall’s injury and the Senegalese duo’s AFCON absence, the Everton boss regularly made only two to three changes every game, leaving a lot of options on the table.

That kind of restraint from the manager makes little sense when there are a fair few players who have done well when given regular game time and deserve more opportunities. Take the case of Nathan Patterson and Tim Iroegbunam, for instance.

The lack of utilising the bench also makes it easier for opponents to read the players well, prepare plans in advance and it also risks complacency seeping into the regulars.

The curious case of Adam Aznou

The lack of game time for Adam Aznou is particularly baffling! Signed from Bayern Munich last summer, Aznou, who got his footballing education in La Masia, has made just one, I repeat one appearance for Everton this season.

To be fair, he was given ‘pity minutes’ in the closing stages of the FA Cup game against Sunderland last month, a lacklustre affair where the hosts were trailing by a goal. Aznou came on and quickly turned the contest.

With decisive play down the left flank, he won the penalty that allowed Everton to force extra-time. What should’ve been a moment for him to kick on and find his way into the squad amounted to nothing. 

He’s not even made it to the bench in any of the last three league games and was heavily speculated to be leaving on loan in the winter transfer window.

No matter how bad a game Vitalii Mykolenko is having at left-back, there’s no other option for Moyes to turn to besides forcing a centre-back or a midfielder to step in that role.

Tyler Dibling written off too quickly

Then there’s Tyler Dibling, who seems to be written off by his own manager after a couple of bad performances. 

It’s true that Dibling’s body language and his lack of effort in games has been difficult to get behind, but the conversation around him needs a nuanced approach.

Yes, he arrived from Southampton for a hefty price tag and with the expectation of being “the next big thing”, but he’s also a 19-year-old who’s not been given any consistent minutes to develop. 

He’s only played the equivalent of four full 90s so far, and at the moment, seems a player bereft of any confidence.

Rohl, Patterson and Alcaraz can’t get a look in

Nathan Patterson and Merlin Rohl managed to surprise a lot of fans with their performances and did quite well in games during the period between December and January. 

Playing Patterson at right-back allowed more flexibility and an easier buildup down the flank, while Jake O’Brien added a lot of steel at centre-back. However, with the return of Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite, Moyes has opted for the safe approach of slotting O’Brien at right-back.

Meanwhile, Idrissa Gueye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have seen a lot of action in midfield, with minutes being hard to come by for Tim Iroegbunam, Charly Alcaraz and Rohl. Alcaraz, who was a key component of the XI last season and Iroegbunam, who did brilliantly in Gana’s absence, certainly warrant more game time.

I should make it clear that I’m not expecting the manager to start these players regularly.

However, one can’t help but shake the feeling that all these players have something different to offer. It’s not unreasonable to think that they can help unlock certain game states or make things unpredictable for the opposition. Only if their manager starts trusting them more and being more proactive with changes from the bench.

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