This game has 0-0 or 1-1 written all over it. Everton seem to love the underdog games, and can pick up a win when the other team is more focused on scoring than shutting down our few attacking options, but when we go to a game with the mindset of attack, the other team's defensive capabilities seem to currently always trump our poor attacking ones.
The catalyst for us turning into being able to register these wins is for the attack to just become more potent, which I feel can be done in several ways. I personally disagree that the Striker should be relied upon to score the goals, and I feel it's Moyes sentiment aswell (he has stated previously that the days of the striker and the 4-4-2 have passed and the game is far more dynamic and less rigid, will dig up quotes later).
The formation and style of player is critical to what we can produce and these are my two preferred formations that will unleash the attacking capabilities of our team.
On the defensive (without the ball)
-----------Howard
Coleman Jags Distin Baines
----------- Felliani
Pienaar* Cahill Arteta Gueye
------------Beckford
With this formation it's basically the standard Moyes formation that we are all used too, more than capable of defensive work but with attacking minds of Coleman, Gueye and Beckford which each of them hold loads of pace really unlock a quick counter attack option for us which we have been lacking. Pienaar as he is on the way out could be changed out with any player capable of playing right wing, keeping in mind you will have the overlap with Coleman and you want a pacey player.
On the Attack (with the ball)
-----------Howard
*--Jags-----------Distin--*
|----------Felliani---------|
Coleman---------------Baines
|---------------------------|
*----------Arteta----------*
----------(Cahill)
--------------v
Pienaar---Beckford----Gueye
With this formation, the intended purpose is to lock the ball in, bombard the goal with the wingers, midfielders and leave the striker in the position to knock the ball in after the shots. Coleman and Baines push up but with the mind they need to be able to track back asap for a counter.
This is very close to our current tactics but the main difference is a focus on pace and ability to get into a better position quicker than the oppositions defence can muster, and also the fact you will be looking more towards your wingers and midfield to score the goals and not have this absurd expectation that one lone striker takes on a minimum of 2 CBs by himself, With Cahill making his trademark late runs into the box.
Once we stop trying to get the passes to the striker and start putting pressure on the keeper with shots and deflections coming from all around, we should really start picking up these lesser teams.
