Sad Report: James Garner has finally been suspended due to poor performance in the last game
Everton of course brought in two holding midfielders on transfer deadline day but while the return of fans’ favourite Idrissa Gana Gueye after a protracted chase that had gone on for several weeks over the summer, predictably made the headlines, the late acquisition of his ‘near-namesake’ James Garner went somewhat under the radar.
While not quite thrown in at the deep end, after coming off the bench in the Merseyside Derby for his debut as a Blue second time around, the Senegalese international has subsequently started the next three games.
Just as Everton seemed set to turn a corner, they were brought back down to earth with a shuddering halt in last week’s 2-1 defeat to Luton Town, which followed on from successive away wins at Brentford and Aston Villa – the latter of those games coming in the EFL Cup third round.
Saturday’s dismal loss at Goodison Park was Everton’s fourth straight home defeat. Only four teams in top-flight history have ever lost their first five on home soil in a single campaign – Manchester United in 1930-31, Portsmouth in 2009-10, Bolton Wanderers in 2011-12 and Newcastle United in 2018-19 (Burnley could also suffer that fate this season).
The upheaval at Everton has perhaps spared Dyche further pressure; representatives of the club’s potential new owners, 777 Partners, were in attendance at the Luton game. While reports suggest 777 is supportive of Dyche, that patience will wear thin if results do not pick up – though quite who would make that decision until 777 is officially in charge is up in the air.
Goals from Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris – which both came from set-pieces – exposed Everton’s inability to keep a clean sheet, and it was a predictable story for the Toffees, who in spite of their lowly position in the league table, have far exceeded each of their opponent’s expected goals (xG) in three of their four home matches this term.
Although xG is a good indicator of a team’s ability to create chances, converting those chances is what counts. Everton posted 2.89 xG against Luton, but only 0.65 of that came in the second half, with the lack of a clear tactical plan on show, much to the home faithful’s frustration.
Everton are averaging 15.4 shots per game in the Premier League this season (108 shots in total), their highest since the 2012-13 campaign (16.7). They had 23 attempts against Luton, but they did not have a single shot on target following their 41st-minute goal.
