One month and three games into the new campaign, and there is a restorative level of optimism around Everton football club. The toffees have won two of their first three contests in the Premier League campaign, advanced in the Carabao Cup, and have reveled in the opening of Hill Dickinson Stadium. New signings have dazzled, old favorites have impressed, and the squad looks its strongest in years. With August in the books, the contributors at The Toffee Blues have voted, and these are the candidates for The Toffee Blues’s player of the month for the month of August.
SECOND PLACE, JORDAN PICKFORD & KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL (TIE)
JORDAN PICKFORD – 1 VOTE
England’s number one received a vote for the player of the month, and if not for another standout performer (to be discussed later) he likely would have received several more. The man between the sticks has impressed in a big way once again as he enters into his 8th season with Everton, and seemingly shows no signs of slowing down. Pickford boasts a save percentage of 72.7% for the month of August, saving 8 of 11 shots on target he faced. Additionally, he came up with a crucial penalty save against Brighton’s Danny Welbeck in the grand opening of the new stadium.
His long-ball distribution has continued to impress as well, with a 41% accuracy on long-balls from his goal box, one of the best numbers in the Premier League. His consistency, and ability to pull off the remarkable has well been on display thru only 3 games this season. With rumors rampant that the club are readying a contract proposal for Pickford to see out his career with the toffees, it is likely many supporters are crossing their fingers.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 1 VOTE
Much like Jordan Pickford, Dewsbury-Hall had a month that was likely worthy of more than the one vote he received from our contributors. The new signing who arrived from Chelsea in the summer transfer window has been superb in his first action as an Evertonian. He registered an outrageous goal and assist against Wolves on the road, and put in impactful and match-defining performances against Leeds and Brighton to open the season. The new midfielder’s ability on the ball has been a revelation to the club, who have desperately been crying out for the sort of quality into the final third that Dewsbury-Hall possesses.
He has created 8 chances and registered an 85.4% passing accuracy in his first 3 matches, but has also won 66,7% of his tackles and 60% of his duels as he proves himself a reliable teammate to the ever industrious Idrissa Gueye in midfield. His impact has been measured beyond statistics for supporters, with his talent in attack noticeably and meaningfully improving Everton’s attack. So far the new man has proved a treat, here is hoping his impact continues to grow in his time on Merseyside.
FIRST PLACE – JACK GREALISH – 19 VOTES
It is likely no surprise to anyone reading this article that 19 of the 21 votes from the team were for new signing Jack Grealish. Perhaps the football club’s biggest signing since James Rodriguez, Jack Grealish brings a level of stardom to Bramley Moore Dock that the club has lacked in recent years. Since his major money transfer from Villa to Manchester City, despite having success beyond measure with Pep Guardiola, Grealish fell out of favor with the club. With the ability to sign the winger on loan, as both club and player enter into an era of rebirth and renaissance, it seemed like a no brainer. How right were the Friedkin Group?
Grealish has dazzled and delighted since the moment he stepped on the pitch for Everton, and has registered 4 assists in his first two starts with the club. Not only assists, but to the eye test he is actively providing something the club have been crying out for, a world-class ability to carry the ball past defenders and put it in dangerous positions that will lead to goals. He has dazzled with one of the best dribble success numbers in the league at 46%, and a superb pass accuracy of 87.7%. Additionally, he has one of the best duel success numbers in the league for af forward at 58.8%.
His willingness and desire on both ends of the pitch have not gone unnoticed, and it seems the English national is back to loving football again, and deservingly so. Fifty million sounded like a big number only several weeks ago, and now you’d likely find a stadium full of Evertonians who would pay it themselves given the chances. An instant impact signing that has maybe changed the trajectory of the club, Jack Grealish is the Toffee Blues Player of the Month for the month of August.
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