The rise of Ancelotti’s Everton
What an outstanding start for Carlo Ancelotti’s men. The highly-respected Italian manager has changed the entire atmosphere and football style at Everton in just a single calendar year. Ancelotti took over the managerial position in December of 2019 after the club relieved Marco Silva of his duties. Duncan Ferguson took over the caretaker duties for 2 weeks before Ancelotti was officially hired. Since then the club has added multiple players to the roster that fit his vision for the club. Allan from Napoli (£22.50m) and James Rodriguez from Real Madrid (via free transfer) are the two notable players that have boosted Everton to the top of the table with 9 points out of 9 and tied with Liverpool in points and goal differential. Leicester is leading the 3-way tie due to a higher goal differential.
The Toffees are playing some exciting football on top of winning. Ancelotti has also gotten the best out of some of the most unexpected players. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has shown flashes of his ability and potential since his debut for the club back in 2016, but Ancelotti has turned him into an absolute poacher in the box since he arrived. Calvert-Lewin had just 5 goals prior to Ancelotti’s appointment, then had 8 through the rest of the season. The 23-year old currently is tied for top scorer in the league with 4 goals. He finds himself being molded into one of the best penalty box poachers in history by Ancelotti, Pippo Inzaghi. Inzaghi was coached by Ancelotti during the glory days of AC Milan, helping him to score 73 goals in 202 appearances for the club. He was not alone when he was the biggest goal threat for the Rossoneri. He had a partner to work off of in the name of Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko scored 127 goals in 208 appearances during a 7 year stretch with the club, excluding his loan spell back to the club in 2008. The two had an outstanding partnership and played off each other with some fabulous link-up play. Ancelotti seems to be recreating that between Calvert-Lewin and Rodriguez. Rodriguez is looking to be the creator with Calvert-Lewin being the finisher. Rodriguez should have had multiple assists to Calvert-Lewin in the game against Crystal Palace, but Calvert-Lewin just could not finish a shot and a header attempt.
With a few days left in the transfer window, Everton could be finished with their transfers, and if their squad continues in the form that they are playing in they won’t need to drastically add to their squad depth as well.
Well with that being said. It’s almost deadline day. All of us watching Jim White’s neckties tick down to midnight. Let the drama begin.
Match of the Week - West Brom v. Chelsea
Easily the thriller of the week. Chelsea came out lackadaisical and was punched in the mouth by Callum Robinson with a goal 4 minutes into the game. West Brom then continued to score 2 more goals in the 25th and 27th minute. Chelsea missed some stellar chances from Timo Werner who hit the crossbar and Tammy Abraham shooting wide while attacking a cross at the far post. West Brom looked to have controlled the game, but the class on the field for Chelsea could not be culled. Mason Mount opened the scoring in the 55th minute with an absolute screamer off his right foot, which Sam Johnstone could not even move to attempt to save. Callum Hudson-Odoi pulled another one back in the 70th minute, calmly slotting the ball along the ground to the opposite corner in the box after working the give and go with Kai Havertz. Tammy Abraham then made up for the earlier miss with a poacher’s goal, at the 93rd minute, in the back after a Johnstone save that landed right at his feet. Chelsea then had more chances to grab the lead but could not finish off the full comeback. The last 20 minutes of the game had me on the edge of my seat, actually hoping for a Timo Werner goal to start his journey as an iconic Chelsea striker. Even more so since he’s the first center-forward to take the #11 shirt. It’s going to be tough for him to live up to the career of Drogba.
Player of the Week - Jaime Vardy, Leicester City
After Riyad Mahrez scored the opening goal (more on that in the next segment), 4 minutes into the game, Jaime Vardy single-handedly finished off the game with a 30-minute hat-trick. Vardy started off his scoring with a penalty from a foul by Kyle Walker.
His second was a beautiful one in open play. He slotted it to the bottom right corner of the goal, with the assist coming in from Timothy Castagne. Both Vardy and Castagne made fantastic runs into the box and beat the backline. Vardy’s finish was superb with Ederson expecting a one time hit, but Vardy took a breathe and hit it like a backheel flick with his trailing right foot. He absolutely took it with class.
His final goal was also a penalty after he drew a foul by Eric Garcia while making a run into the box.
Solid finishing from the Leceister City talisman to score when called upon. He did his job as the starting striker and what was expected of him.
Goal of the Week - Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City & James Maddison, Leicester City
I did not think there could be two goal-of-the-weeks in a single game, but why should I be surprised with the sheer amount of goals that are being scored in the premier league so far this season.
The first one was from Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez’s goal was spectacular off the half-volley. The clearance fell kindly to him and the entire mosh pit in the mixer had shifted to the near post. Mahrez then calmly took it off of his right foot and launched it into the back across the face of the goal into the top corner. An absolutely stunning shot that showed the brilliance of a world-class player. Keeper also had no chance on the ball as it rocketed back in front of him in a split second.
The second came from the same game but from Leceister City and James Maddison. Maddison floats in after Kyle Walker comes off him and hands him off to Garcia. Ferran Torres also could have picked him up sooner after handing off Barnes to Ake. Ake does well to track him but the run opens up a clear line of sight on goal for the shot. Garcia does not quickly pick him up giving Maddison time to step inside for a better angle and launches a curled effort over Ederson. Brilliant runs and placement by Barnes and Vardy to give Maddison the space to shoot. that was paired with poor defending and placement from Torres and Garcia to close out the shot. The shot itself was untouchable as it was caught perfectly and had the perfect dip in it over the keeper. Just a sublime piece of goalscoring work.