Four games into Carlo Ancelotti’s time in charge over Everton and the mood is already beginning to sour. Director of football Marcel Brands addressed a group of angry fans outside the training ground during the week after their 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup; with Jurgen Klopp ringing the changes but still coming out on top against a full-strength Everton XI. The atmosphere around the club may be a hangover from previous bosses or purely based on the board, but ultimately it falls with Ancelotti to smooth things over.
The number one priority is to get back to winning ways on the pitch after back to back defeats, and that starts with reverting to the 4-4-2 formation which has served the Toffees well of late. Since arriving, the Italian manager has toyed with a 5-2-1-2 setup which garnered a narrow success against Burnley but did not stand up to a much-changed Manchester City or Liverpool. However, Everton are yet to be defeated in their previous five matches with the classic English structure, of two banks of four.
Simplicity is critical to success with 4-4-2 and Everton have the perfect players to fit the system. Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Bernard can provide explosive pace in wide areas, while Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have begun to form a partnership leading the line together. The latter of which has particularly benefitted from having support alongside him, producing his best goal return in the Premier League to date.
Ancelotti will be well aware that the system is hardly revolutionary as he attempts to put his own stamp on proceedings at Goodison Park. But without having had a preseason to divulge his tactics, sticking to what the players know will get results back on track in the short term. After all, wins ease pressure and buy managers time and with the mood still bubbling in the blue half of Merseyside, the Italian would be wise to increase the five-point gap to the relegation zone.
Based on favouring a five-man defence so far at Everton, 4-4-2 may not be Ancelotti’s preferred choice. But in the short term, it is the ideal fix to avoid a trio of consecutive defeats, distancing himself from any danger to make sure he and his bosses can start next term with a clean slate.
