FIVE Things we learned Vs Everton
Updated: Sep 6
The Cherries were left disappointed on Saturday as Everton cruelly stole a point with a late James Tarkowski goal. Marco Rose’s side dominated the second half of the game but wasted multiple opportunities in front of goal that would prove costly. Despite the result, here are five things we can take from the game!
Evanilson is up and running
Saturday proved to me and other fans that Evanilson is fired up and ready to go this season having now provided both Cherries goals this season; both created from a piece of brilliance. This time against Everton, he takes the ball out wide and turns James Tarkowski inside out with great control. He then found Alex Scott with a well weighted pass before Scott eventually found the bottom corner. I think Evanilson’s contribution to the team gets lost in his low scoring numbers and his two assists this seas n have been reminders that he is crucial to the attacking build up in the team.
Alex Scott still has his eye on the ball
I did think that it may take Alex until after the transfer window to get back into the groove he was in last season, in terms of producing consistent 8/10 performances week in week out. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see him take hold of the game and shine throughout. His goal was very well taken with his touch taking it away from him and then striking it across his body. The celebration wasn’t bad either. But throughout the game, his tenacity, his ball-playing and his knowledge of where to be on the pitch at all times really shone through. What impressed me most was how he handled himself after getting an early yellow card. He managed to keep himself to himself and still get into the Everton players and challenge for every ball. It’s pretty much confirmed now that Alex will stay this season; I am very much hoping he can continue putting in similar performances.
Set-pieces still a real concern
I think it was the case that whenever Everton had a corner kick, you could hear a pin drop in the stadium. The 2-1 loss at Manchester City highlighted how the Cherries were very poor at defending corners and fans expected perhaps the same pattern in this game. Whilst there were some shaky moments, it seemed that we had escaped such fate and would run away with all three points. In the 91st minute, Hayden Hackney had the ball at the corner flag. When everyone saw Hackney shank the ball and miss everyone in the box, I think there was a collective sigh of relief. Until you see both Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie contest a ball between themselves which then kindly falls to Tarkowski for him to smash it home. It was really disappointing and showed a real lack of communication between the players. This might be the key issue when defending set pieces. At Anfield last year, I remember a similar thing happening. Bafode Diakite and Ben Winterburn both contesting a loose ball going against each other, only for the ball to fall for Chiesa to smash home in front of the Kop end. With those two players, you could forgive them for a lack of communication because of their lack of playing time and chemistry. However, with Tavernier and Christie, its unforgivable. You really wish that they spend a long time looking over that mistake and rectifying it this week in training.
The team aren’t short of chances
For sure the Cherries wasted too many chances on Saturday, with 17 shots to Everton’s 13. Six big chances created compared to Everton’s three. The positive you can take from that is of course the team are creating many chances, and, on another day, they could take four or five of them. Rayan seemed a real threat whenever he had the ball, and I was impressed by Tavernier throughout. I think he showed why he is so pivotal to the team going forward as he can float in and around the box and his work rate is second to none. Justin Kluivert is proving to be an engine in the central role and did well in exploiting the empty space. I do think you also had to give an applause to Jordan Pickford who annoyingly had a very good game and produced some mega saves. There were also times when the Everton backline threw themselves in front of the ball and the Cherries couldn’t put the ball in the net. Some positive signs!
Vitality Stadium changes are impressive
On arrival to Dean Court, I was expecting a long wait getting into the ‘inner perimeter’ of the stadium, but I was left impressed. The queues weren’t long at all and I do like the concept of scanning your ticket at the gate and then being in the stadium grounds. Seeing the corners was really strange, especially with the surrounding stands having their sides torn off to accommodate them. The fresh seats were nice and I do like the new look of the stadium compared to the washed out red seats we previously had. I can’t wait to see the stadium develop across the season and a huge kudos goes to the workmen who managed to clear up the stadium in time for Saturday.
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