Life’s a Pitch: width – the secret of Everton’s success

What’s going on at Everton? The team that normally snoozes through the first part of the season – waking up after Christmas for a belated charge on the Premier League – has come flying out of the blocks on the starter’s gun.

But what’s changed? There has been no change of manager, pre-season wasn’t remarkably different. They even lost two of their more high-profile players, in Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell, over the summer.

The answer lies on the wings, says Michael Cox, editor of football tactics website Zonal Marking. More specifically, David Moyes has both acquired more players adept at playing on either flank, and he has placed more emphasis on attacks from out wide.

And it’s working. After just five games of the Premier League season, the Toffees find themselves in third place, playing the sort of attractive, attacking football that’s winning plaudits from all angles.

Talking of waking up, Mike Calvin this week wrote about how the masses are finally realising that Southampton’s Rickie Lambert can play a bit. In fact, far more than just a target man, the Saints striker is proving himself a match for many of his more celebrated forwards in the Premier League.

And while it’s taken Lambert until he was 30 to make a name for himself in top-flight football, fellow thirtysomethings Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic aren’t much longer for the limelight, according to the Life’s a Pitch team, when discussing Manchester United’s central defensive injury woes this week.

Other people soon to be departing the Premier League, at least that’s what most Blackburn fans and Mike Calvin hope, are club owners Venky’s. Mike’s advice is plain and simple: end your embarrassing ownership of a once proud club and take your manager Steve Kean and global advisor Shebby Singh with you.

Elsewhere, we look at the latest transfer rumours and discuss El Hadji Diouf’s cult status at Leeds.

Expert pundit videos

“Diouf could score the goals that take Leeds up”

El Hadji Diouf played a key role in Leeds’ League Cup win over Everton. The Life’s a Pitch panel discusses the club’s resurgence and Diouf’s cult status.
Mr popular >

“Vidic and Ferdinand are on their last legs”

The Life’s a Pitch team assess how Man Utd will cope with just Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans as the only two fit central defenders.
Last legs >

Liverpool track Tello, Ogbonna to Man Utd, Leeds eye Jones?

The Life’s a Pitch team analyse transfer rumours involving Cristian Tello, Angelo Ogbonna and Kenwyne Jones.
Transfer talk >

Deulofeu to Chelsea, Everton eye Hitzlsperger?

Reports suggest Chelsea and Everton are keen to get busy in the transfer market again. The Life’s a Pitch team assesses how likely that is.
On the move? >

Lively opinion pieces

Width: the secret to Everton’s success so far this season

Zonal Marking’s Michael Cox examines the tactics behind Everton’s cracking start to the season.
Wide men >

Enough is enough, it’s time Venky’s hit the road

Mike Calvin urges Venky’s to end their embarrassing ownership of Blackburn, and to take their hapless manager and gaff-prone global adviser with them.
Closing time >

The masses finally wake up to the talents of Rickie Lambert

Mike Calvin explains why he’s so surprised it’s taken people so long to apreciate the qualities of Southampton striker Rickie Lambert.
Quality striker >

Di Matteo missing a trick leaving Sturridge on the sidelines

Luke Moore explains why he finds Daniel Sturridge’s substitute role at Chelsea under Roberto Di Matteo so baffling.
Face doesn’t fit >

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