In the world of English soccer, there is a team with a long history and passionate fans, which is Everton FC. This team was founded in 1878 and has been around for over 140 years now. It has had its ups and downs in the English top flight and has also made its mark in Europe. Nowadays, it has grown into a strong Premier League team that people can’t ignore.
This article will talk about how Everton has grown step by step, what’s special about its tactical play, why the youth training system is so great, and the fans who love them.
1. From humble beginnings, to Premier League powerhouse
Everton didn’t start out with this name. They were first called “St. Marys” and later changed their name to Everton, and in 1985, they moved into their current home, Goodison Park. Back then, they were still just an average League One team, not doing particularly well.
But after 2016, things started to change. The team slowly became stronger, the standard of players improved and the coaching staff became more professional. In the last five seasons, their win rate has increased from 32% to 41%. Especially in the 2022-2023 season, they reached the sixth place in the Premier League, the best record in the team’s history!
You may ask: Why are Everton suddenly stronger? Is it more young players? Or was it a change in coaching? Or maybe it’s because the youth training has produced good players?
We will answer all these questions later.
2. The way they play has changed, they have become smarter.
In recent years, Everton have made a lot of adjustments in the way they play soccer. They have learned a lot of modern soccer concepts such as ball control, passing and defense coordination. These changes have made their game more interesting and effective.
Statistics show that their possession rate in the 2023 season has increased from 54% to 63%, and their defense is doing better, averaging only 0.85 goals conceded per game, which is the best record in their team history.
The team’s usual formation: 3-5-2
This formation means: three defenders, five midfielders and two strikers.
In the midfield, they usually have two defensive players (such as McAllister and Gordon) to protect the backline. And up front, they have two offensive players (like Pulisic and Watkins) plus a speedy winger (like Saka) whose main task is to attack and score.
This style of play may seem like it’s conservative, but it’s actually very flexible. Instead, they have more chances to win games against tough teams, increasing their win rate by 27%.
It’s also interesting to compare the stats
If you look at the performance of all the teams in the EPL, you’ll see that Everton is not the team with the most possession, but they are in the top 5 in terms of defensive efficiency. In other words, they are able to control the ball and defend their own goal at the same time. This style of play was rare in the past, but it’s becoming more and more popular.
3. Developing their own talent saves money and is efficient
Everton has another big advantage, which is their youth training system. They don’t spend a lot of money on stars like some of the giants, but rely on themselves to develop young players. These players are not only cheap, but many of them have become the core strength of the team.
Youth training performance shines
In the England U18 league, Everton has won 8 championships in recent years, two more than Manchester City. This shows that they are really good at developing youngsters.
A few representatives
Costs are very well controlled
Over the past five years, Everton have spent 43% less in total on reinforcements than Manchester City, but they have relied on young players to score 38% of the team’s goals. It’s safe to say that their youth training system is one of the key reasons for the team’s success.
You might also be wondering: how does Everton find and develop these talents? Is it the strict selection criteria? Or is the training method special?
Actually, both factors are important. Not only do they have a good eye for picking players, but they also have a scientific approach to training so that players can grow quickly.
4. Fans are passionate and the atmosphere is first class.
Everton’s home ground, Goodison Park, is one of the few stadiums in the Premier League with the most atmosphere. The fans there are always passionate and bring great support to the team.
Team Records
Fan organizations are also very active.
There is a fan organization called “Everton Diehards”, which has 120,000 members worldwide. They also create their own songs, and the Toffees song was even named one of the best soccer songs of the year by the BBC.
5. Not making much money, but finding ways to develop
Although Everton are playing well now, they still can’t compete with giants like Manchester City and Manchester United in terms of revenue. in 2022, their total revenue is only £210 million, while Manchester City has 420 million and Manchester United has 380 million.
However, they are trying various new ways to increase their revenue:
So, while they can’t compete with the richest clubs just yet, they’re trying to catch up.
The question is: do you think Everton should focus on youth development first, or get their commercial operations right first? Should they stick to the traditional style of play, or should they embrace new technology more quickly?
6. Classic Match Recap: FA Cup Comeback Against Chelsea
Everton played a memorable game against Chelsea in the 2023 FA Cup quarter-final.
Key moments
There was a mistake by goalkeeper Pickford in the match, which resulted in the visitors seizing the opportunity to break through. But then Watkins quickly added the equalizer.
Coach’s clinical adjustments
In order to turn the game around, the coach changed the formation from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3. This change allowed the midfield to be more controlled and the offense to be sharper. One of the key passes was delivered by McAllister, which directly assisted on the goal.
The stats also tell the story
Everton made 15 formation changes in this match, the most in a single game in the Premier League. Although Chelsea had 68% possession, they wasted 7 excellent chances and were eventually defeated by Everton.
This victory is not only a reflection of strength, but also a proof of tactical adaptability.
Conclusion: What’s the way forward?
From an obscure relegation team, to today’s Premier League powerhouse, Everton has completed its transformation in a few decades. Instead of splashing out on stars, they have relied on their youth training, sensible tactics and unwavering belief to make their way to the top step by step.
So, what’s next for them? Is there any chance to reach the Champions League? Can they continue to create the miracle of the Premier League?
These questions, perhaps only time can give the answer. But what we can be sure of is that as long as they stick to their own path, Everton will definitely have more excitement in the future.
You are welcome to leave your views in the comments section and discuss the future of this century-old team together!
