Everton’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United was plainly a game of two halves.
The first period saw the visitors run rings around the Toffees, and they will be gutted they found the back of the net just once.
But David Moyes reacted to his side’s dismal first 45 minutes with two substitutions and a tweak in formation that saw Everton regain control and eventually an equaliser through Thierno Barry.
With the introduction of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite, who replaced Dwight McNeil and Harrison Armstrong, Moyes shifted his side to a three-at-the-back approach, which helped the Blues become more comfortable in possession.
The tweak from the manager emphasised how much Everton have missed Branthwaite, and on top of his astute defensive skills, the 23-year-old is a crucial cog to the Toffees’ attacking play.
A naturally left-footed centre-back is always beneficial to the balance of a football team, but when you have a player who is as accurate as Branthwaite, it also opens new avenues of attack through cutting-edge passes that can split opposing defences.
Should the England international maintain his fitness for the remainder of the season, he will be a key factor to Everton’s success at both ends of the pitch.
With Branthwaite joining the back three, the change from Moyes pushed Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko up the wings. Both functioned as wing-backs.
The pair did not manage to create much threat for the Blues, but they did face a very stubborn Leeds defence, who were firmly camped in their own half.
If wing-backs are to be used again, this would create the perfect conditions for Adam Aznou to gain Premier League experience.
Aznou has just one senior appearance this season. In his sole cameo, during Everton’s FA Cup defeat to Sunderland, the Moroccan showed he is a handful in the attacking third.
It seems clear that Moyes prefers Mykolenko over Aznou, and this is unlikely to change over the course of the season, but by employing wing-backs, the 19-year-old could find himself clocking more Premier League minutes.
If Branthwaite manages to build consistent playing time, this could give the young left-back a chance to demonstrate his talents in the league, while playing with the reassurance of a skilful left-footed centre back to help with any defensive work.
The draw against Leeds was two points dropped, but it was at least refreshing to see Moyes tweak his tactics and make changes at half-time. The change clearly rejuvenated the team and earned them a deserved draw – which seemed unlikely after the first 45 minutes.
Whether the Scotsman chooses to use these tactics again remains to be seen, but seeing a new attacking approach is promising.
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Posted
30/01/2026 at
09:11:57
But on saying that I DO think theres an opportunity to look at Aznou and Patterson (who played that role for Scotland) as wingbacks. I would play OBrien Branthwaite Mykolenko as the back three in that scenario.
But Moyes will never do that.
Posted
30/01/2026 at
09:25:47
Actually, could we have the names of the editorial team? That should be a natural aspect of running this site. But where on the site can we find. this?
MK seems to have gone AWOL.
Who is in the editorial ‘team’?
You need to tell us.
Posted
30/01/2026 at
09:32:17
Names of editorial team? Read this every day and most of us on here could name a couple… whether official or not!
Posted
30/01/2026 at
09:37:07
Type “Muck Rag James Kellet” in search box of Google
Posted
30/01/2026 at
09:57:24
Why do they need to report to you again, Paul?
Posted
30/01/2026 at
10:00:47
It would be one editorial team reporting to itself!!
Posted
30/01/2026 at
10:06:20
Not sure if Moyes has ever played three at the back but I do know him and coaching staff need to do a lot more in training practicing some new tactics including corners where they have kept playing the same routine Dyche used— no variation whatsoever and dont mention throw ins- —a big % go straight to the opposition, maybe you cant teach an old dog new tricks with Moyes being the old dog, no disrespect intended there.
Posted
30/01/2026 at
10:11:25
Agree Dave 7 about many going to the opposition. Linesman flagging throw our way rarely brings a cheer as after minutes of dithering by the thrower”, the opposition usually have all bases covered.
Posted
30/01/2026 at
10:36:38
Oh don’t get me started on corners, as you say its the same as when Dyche was here which is mostly a ball to the back post. Against Leeds we had 6″ 6 O,Brien, 6″5 Branthwaite, 6″ 4 Barry plus 6″0 Tarkowski. Yet how many clear headers do we win very few. I watch the other lot on MOTD and seems VVD gets his head on about 30% of their corners and scores or makes chances, yet he is not as tall as O,Brien or Branthwaite.
We never try a flick on from the near post, and defensively why don’t teams have players on the posts anymore, if you see most goals from corners most would be stopped if you had players on each post. Also means the goalkeeper has less of the goal to cover, or he can actually try and catch or punch it clear knowing he has 2 men on the line if he misses the ball.
Posted
30/01/2026 at
10:53:46
We should invest in a specialist set-piece coach to improve the attack and defence. The variety of our offensive set-pieces is terrible.
As for our defensive set-up, we are a big team who concede goals easily to free-kicks, corners and long throws – teams just block off our tall players and we look befuddled. Spurs, Newcastle and Brentford took full advantage of our weakness in this year.
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