Finally back to winning ways at Goodison Park after what seems like a lifetime. We started in the same way as we finished against Manchester United, unfortunately, and it took some time for us to grow into the game but once we did we looked positive and exciting once again.
There were some standout performers that will give manager Ronald Koeman a headache going into the weekend, such as Vlasic and Calvert-Lewin, but more importantly is how the system was a standard 4-3-3, without a ‘Number Ten’. We played a straight bank of three midfielders in Davies, Klaassen and Besic and Davies was often the furthest one forward but he was by no means the playmaker.
So, does Koeman persist with the system he’s been drilling into the team since the start of pre-season or does he adapt to what he’s just seen has worked?
My two cents is that we looked a million dollars in the second half, going forward especially, so I would stick with that system for Bournemouth.
Here is the team I want to see against Bournemouth…
GK - Jordan Pickford
A small gripe would be the constant changing of goalkeepers. Although Stekelenburg was good, it doesn’t help the back four if the man behind them is different every week.
RB- Jonjoe Kenny
We’ve all been asking for him for weeks and he finally came in against Sunderland and he did not disappoint. He looked composed and grew into the game as it went on.
CB- Ashley Williams
Williams is a weird case this season, as at times he’s looked the best he’s ever looked for the Blues and at other times he’s been a shambles.
However he is slowly regaining his composure and he deserves to keep his place after his good display against Sunderland.
CB- Michael Keane
Establishing a proper centre-half pairing is crucial right now, as more than anything we need some stability.
Keane hasn’t been at his best as of late, but he’ll recover.
LB- Mason Holgate
Holgate was superb on Wednesday night as he looked like a seasoned left-back rather than a rookie right-back. Baines has been off the pace this month and it’s time to give him some serious competition.
CM- Gylfi Sigurdsson
We need some more attacking quality against Bournemouth, as we can’t afford Besic’s mistakes in the middle of the park for this game. Bournemouth would pounce too effectively.
I’m by no means Sigurdsson’s biggest fan, but i’m not going to write him off so quickly.
CM- Tom Davies
At the moment Davies should be the first name on the teamsheet. He has proven Koeman’s doubts wrong time and time again this season and was once again excellent against Sunderland.
In a team where so many are far too eager to pass it backwards, Davies is one who isn’t afraid to drive forwards.
CM - Idrissa Gana Gueye
Klaassen just didn’t do it for me on Wednesday, so Gueye regains his place. We certainly didn’t miss Schneiderlin, however, and playing both of them would be useless.
RW- Nikola Vlasic
Vlasic was very impactful on Wednesday as for the most part he was our biggest threat going forward. His link up play with Kenny was rehearsed and he isn’t afraid to take his man on and drive towards the box.
LW- Ademola Lookman
Lookman looked assured when he came on late in the game, as he wasn’t afraid to get involved in the game in his limited window of opportunity.
A lot of fans have been calling for Lookman to get a consistent run of games in the team, and now is his chance.
ST- Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin showed on Wednesday just why he’s the man who should be leading the line for the Blues at the moment as he nearly completed a perfect hat-trick. He was sharp all game and his hold-up play was much improved.
He has an eye for goal, there’s no doubt about it, and if he just converts his chances more often, he’ll solve our striker problem in no time.