'Marked improvement' but Everton 'desperately short of goals'

An away point is always valuable and Everton’s draw at West Ham means it is one defeat in the past seven Premier League matches. Given they lost all four of their opening league matches, it is a marked improvement as well as much needed.

However, given the amount of possession and control they had at London Stadium, it feels like 'one that got away'. They should have won the match but could quite easily have lost it. In fact, if it was not for Jordan Pickford’s late awe-inspiring save from Danny Ings they would have done.

The big problem is a lack of creativity in the final third with the Blues not fashioning enough takeable chances. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s recent lack of goals is highlighted - with some justification - but as a centre-forward, he is often trying to thrive on a very limited service.

Both full-backs have done a decent job lately and though Ashley Young has weighed in with valuable assists this season, neither he or Vitalii Mykolenko can be expected to deliver a supply of quality crosses for Calvert-Lewin to benefit from.

Dwight McNeil’s absence at West Ham handed the creative impetus to Iliman Ndaiye, who is a wonderfully gifted player. One of his many strengths is cutting inside, particularly from the left and onto his right foot. Perhaps he could have been an alternative for the number-10 role, with Jack Harrison playing on the left.

Wide players featuring on the opposite side to their favoured foot has never been more popular and Calvert-Lewin in particular could really benefit from that sort of service. Abdoulaye Doucoure’s value to the team is clear and his diligence and drive, not to mention his priceless goals, have helped Everton survive in the Premier League. But he is geared more towards energy than enterprise.

That is what Sean Dyche has to balance out when evaluating his players, especially given Doucoure helps thicken Everton's midfield and never shirks defensive duties.

With a bit of luck, McNeil will be fit for next week’s massive match with Brentford. Dyche is also hopeful that it will not be long before Youssef Chermiti and Armando Broja can press claims for first-team involvement after injury.

Everton are desperately short of goals so adding more players and more competition for places can only be a positive thing.

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