Since David Moyes returned to Everton at the start of the year, the team’s fortunes have dramatically shifted.
Under Sean Dyche, Everton was embroiled in a relegation fight, but in just two months, they’ve managed to pull 17 points clear of the drop zone.
The Toffees are currently on a nine-match unbeaten streak, with Moyes successfully improving several players who had been underperforming.
Beto has shown significant progress, and Jake O’Brien, who was barely featured under Dyche, has now become a key part of Moyes’ squad.
Jordan Pickford has also seen improvement in a crucial aspect of his game, which Moyes had pinpointed when he first returned to the club.
Moyes advised Pickford to refine his goal kicks
As reported by Alan Nixon on Patreon, Moyes instructed Pickford to adjust his goal kicks upon his return to Everton in January. The Scottish manager had observed that Pickford was over-hitting his kicks, often sending them too wide.
Moyes recommended that Pickford take a bit of pace off the kicks and direct them more centrally, which has begun to yield positive results. The England goalkeeper is now delivering more accurate kicks, regularly finding Beto as the target.
This was particularly evident in last month’s match against Leicester City, when Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the fastest goal in Goodison Park history. Pickford’s direct ball was far more effective than the wide passes that were common under Dyche.
Pickford on Moyes’ focus on attacking patterns
In an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Pickford shared that Moyes has been focusing on attacking patterns during training.
“We’ve been working hard on how we move the ball and create chances,” Pickford said. “Goodison Park is all about creating opportunities, and when you don’t have the ball, you work hard to regain it. I think we’ve shown that in our recent performances.”
Moyes has been eager to make Everton a more attacking team, moving away from the pragmatic style favored by Dyche, which had become ingrained in the players.
The bizarre instruction David Moyes gave Jordan Pickford when he rejoined Everton which is now paying off
