Everton’s newly adopted 3-4-3 approach seems to face one hurdle after another. Having been successfully trialled by Carlo Ancelotti in the 3-2 win over Fulham, there were plenty of positives to take despite some defensive frailties.
Fast-forward to the present, and a defensive crisis risks jeopardising the entire basis of Ancelotti’s new-found system.
Injuries to Lucas Digne and Fabian Delph has left the left wing-back role as an area of major doubt. Given a freer role with more defensive responsibilities, it made sense to try Delph and Tom Davies in the wake of Digne’s previous absence, but Delph’s latest injury and Davies’ struggles in the role against Leeds United have hindered the manager’s tactical plans.
Ancelotti is now left with a conundrum as to who to deploy at left wing-back. It may be more cautious to simply do away with the system entirely and revert to a traditional back four, although there is one final roll of the dice which may fortuitously land perfectly for the Toffees if the manager goes for it.
Niels Nkounkou, who has already started once in the league this season, seems to hold some trust with Ancelotti. Whilst Davies is arguably the likely candidate to step into the role, given his preference over the young Frenchman in the Leeds clash, Nkounkou represents a far better choice for Ancelotti.
The only fit natural left-back in the squad, choosing Nkounkou for the Chelsea clash would mean he isn’t operating in a back four as he did against Newcastle. Rather, the 20-year-old would be afforded more expressive freedom to make creative runs in a showcase of speed and agility.
He would, of course, retain the need to track back and defend solidly, but there would be less emphasis on defensive duties in Ancelotti’s current system.
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Playing without fear in this way may be the best thing for Nkounkou. Moreover, it would develop him in a more advanced unfamiliar role, thus boosting his acumen on the pitch.
He is a gamble, but one worth taking. Davies left much to be desired going forward against Leeds, and there appears to be no stronger and more natural candidate than the Frenchman. It is merely a question of Nkounkou’s untested quality over Davies’ visible discomfort at left wing-back.
