Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti faces something of a selection dilemma after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Leeds United on Saturday.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side were able to get the better of the Toffees after a late goal from Raphinha clinched all three points for the Whites in what was a bitterly disappointing result for Ancelotti’s side.
However, one glaring issue was the use of the 3-4-3 system featuring a fluid back five which flowed around the role of makeshift wing-backs. Indeed, the decision to go for Tom Davies as the left-sided option whilst shifting Iwobi to the right – the opposite flank to where he thrived against Fulham – was a curious one.
Indeed, Davies was hauled off for the experienced Fabian Delph after Leeds’ ‘free-flowing football’ unpicked the natural midfielder as part of the wider system. That is why Niels Nkounkou simply must come into the side, either as a left-back in a back four or playing in a more advanced wing-back role.
On Saturday, Ancelotti’s side face a struggling Burnley outfit who are noted for their defensively solid 4-4-2 and exhibited those traits in last week’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, in which an eighth-minute lead was superbly defended throughout.
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It may well be that a reversion to a 4-3-3 for Everton, or even adopting a 4-4-2, is the tactical tweak which could blast the game wide open, with a greater emphasis of top-heavy approach and greater fluidity on the ball. The existing system worked wonders against Fulham, but it is not a one-size-fits-all panacea to Everton’s existing woes.
Nkounkou, whilst relatively inexperienced having featured just once in the Premier League in a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, is the primary natural left-sided defender who can truly exhibit what he is capable of on that flank. He may have a lot to learn, but he is waiting patiently for his opportunity – and now could be the perfect time for him to get it.
