October now seems a distant memory. We sit here at the start of November with the blues currently sitting in 16th. Five points above Luton Town who are just above Bournemouth in 18th due to goal difference. More to come on November on next month’s report.
We were treated to only three fixtures throughout the month of October due to an international break in the middle of the month. Everton entered the month fresh off a 2-1 drubbing to Luton Town at Goodison Park at the end of September (Still currently Luton’s only Premier League win… of course). Next up the blues faced Bournemouth at Goodison Park for their first fixture of the month.
Only a few months ago Everton were facing Bournemouth at Goodison with the final outcome confirming what league they would be playing in, thankfully Abdoulaye Doucoure’s strike meant Everton were to play Premier League football still. There was a sense of nervousness with this Bournemouth fixture still with many saying that if we could not win this match Everton were still showing signs that they would be fighting off relegation again this season instead of showing signs of progress.
A goal from James Garner who had impressed the month before gave Everton the lead within the first 10 minutes of the game, Everton starting off strong. Jack Harrison went on to curl a brilliant shot from outside the box past Neto in the Bournemouth goal to double Everton’s lead heading into half time. The second half came and went and Everton’s hero only months ago Abdoulaye Doucoure dealt Bournemouth their final blow. Everton win 3-0.
Really Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth didn’t make a mark on Everton all game and looked a much worse side than the one that was scrapping with Everton on the final day of the 2022/2023 Premier League season. Bournemouth have continued to struggle since and it is a wonder to me why Bournemouth are sticking with a manager who just doesn’t look like he suits the Premier League. Long may his reign continue.
The International break but a halt to the Premier League season. Not all too much to report on international wise besides Youssef Chermiti scoring for Portugal U19’s.
Everton travelled across Stanley Park to Anfield to face our neighbours Liverpool, a game many Evertonians dread. I’ll keep this short and just say… Ashley Young do better Konate should have seen red and Craig Pawson take off your red shirt. Everton lose 2-0. Shock horror.
Sean Dyche had to rally his Everton side as a week later they were up against David Moyes’ West Ham United. A spirited away performance seen Everton win the game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin after some brilliant footwork from Everton’s number 9. A well deserved 3 points and another win convincing win away from home.
Finally let us move onto the Players after all that is what this article is all about…
3rd Place – James Garner & Dominic Calvert-Lewin (1 vote each out of 18)
James Garner is really being a standout for this Everton side at the moment. Sean Dyche has already showed that Garner is one of his favourites with his use of Garner at right midfield and right back. After his performance in the 2-1 win against Aston Villa in September the 22 year old has gone from strength to strength and is nailing down a permanent place in the Everton starting 11. His goal against Bournemouth in the 3-0 win certainly helping that too.
DCL is truly showing he is back to his best and that this is the fittest he has been in years. Not only is he scoring crucial match winning goals like his goal in the 1-0 win over West Ham but he is putting in solid performances when he isn’t scoring and throwing himself about and connecting with Doucoure, McNeil and Harrison brilliantly. Here is hoping DCL can keep these types of performances and the goals coming!
2nd – Vitalii Mykolenko and Amadou Onana (2 votes each out of 18)
Vitalii Mykolenko is a player who has stood out over the past couple months after starting the season strongly with a number of consistent performances. We all know that Myko isn’t the best going forward but his defensive displays have been crucial to Everton’s turn in form.
Many Everton fans for a while have been waiting for Amadou Onana to start showing some consistency in his performances. The Belgian has often showed glimpses in games of the strong forward thinking midfielder that he can be, but we haven’t seen it enough. Onana since the Carabao Cup win against Aston Villa has stood up and is making himself standout in the midfield. A growing partnership with James Garner could just be the secret to unlocking the best out of the Belgian
1st – Jarrad Branthwaite (12 votes out of 18)
No real surprise here is there? Everton’s shining star of the season so far. It is pretty crazy to think that Everton started the first few games of the season with Michael Keane alongside James Tarkowski. Branthwaite has been getting plaudits off near everyone this season. Everton took no chances and made sure that Branthwaite signed that new contract which has tied him down to the club until the end of June 2027.
Sean Dyche and James Tarkowski have recently been speaking out on Branthwaite and praising his form with many Evertonians liking Branthwaite to former Toffee and now current Manchester City Defender, John Stones, definitely you can see the similarities in their playing style. Hopefully Jarrad can continue his fine form with Everton throughout the season and continue to grow alongside Tarkowski at the heart of the blues defence.
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