CARLO ANCELOTTI’S getting plenty of plaudits for the Everton revival — but big Duncan Ferguson deserves huge credit, too.
It all started when the Scot took over from axed Marco Silva as caretaker in December and in his first game played 4-4-2 and won 3-1 against Chelsea.
Ferguson is now Ancelotti’s right hand man at Goodison ParkCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ancelotti has come in and not really changed the system that much — and it is continuing to work a treat.
A lot of the time under Silva it was 4-2-3-1 and whoever was playing centre-forward would tend to drive out to the left or the right.
There wasn’t really a focal point, a centre-forward playing through the middle. So it was difficult when they got into a good position, getting balls into the box.
They played very expansive and were caught out quite a lot. Under Silva in the league this season, they enjoyed more possession in nine out of his 15 games — winning three, drawing one and losing five of them.
Under Ferguson and Ancelotti, they have had more possession in six of 11 games — and won four and drawn two of those six.
The 4-4-2 formation is definitely my favourite. It means you can outnumber a lot of teams going down the sides and get a lot of balls into the box.
A lot of people will say the big problem with that system is you lose out with a man in midfield. But as long as you have got a centre-forward willing to drop in and make that extra man in midfield, it is a bonus.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison in particular, when the opposition is starting to get a lot of the ball, one of them is comfortable dropping into midfield to create that extra man to make sure they are not outnumbered.
Everton are not as expansive and as open any more. In their 4-4-2, they have two sitting central midfielders, so that means even if the full-backs get forward, they still have four players behind the ball.
Under Silva, it seems they were at their most vulnerable when they were on the attack.
And it is highlighted by that telling stat of winning just three and losing five of his nine games when they had more possession.
Playing two up front is paying dividends. Richarlison under Silva played 15 league games and scored five goals. Since the manager was sacked, he has four in nine appearances.
Calvert-Lewin under Silva was 13 appearances and three goals, whereas he has hit eight in 11 games since.
Playing two up front also means they can press so the opposition cannot play easily from the back.
Also defensively they are so much better. Under Silva in 15 games they conceded 27 but since he left they have conceded 11 in 11.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
