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  • 3 months ago
Everton fans were once accustomed to a distinctive kind of set-piece dominance under Sean Dyche: the inswinging corner met by a towering figure at the back post, overloading the aerial contest and exploiting a goalkeeper’s vulnerability under high balls.

There was almost a brutality in how it was executed. Recall December 2023’s 2–0 win at Burnley or the 2–2 draw with Tottenham: Everton won the aerial battle comprehensively and, put bluntly, bullied their opponents. In such moments, Dyche’s side thrived even amid other shortcomings.

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00:00Everton fans were once accustomed to a distinctive kind of set-piece dominance under Sean Dyche.
00:07The in-swinging corner met by the towering figure at the back post overloading the aerial contest
00:13and exploiting goalkeepers' vulnerability under high balls.
00:18There was almost a brutality in how it was executed.
00:21Recall December's 2023 2-0 win at Burnley or the 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
00:27Everton won the aerial battle comprehensively.
00:30And put bluntly, bullied their opponents.
00:32In such moments, Dyche's side thrived even amid their other shortcomings.
00:38But nine months since David Moyes replaced Dyche, much has changed.
00:43Some personnel and principals remain, yet Moyes has attempted to shift the squad's identity.
00:49Players like Dwight McNeil, who embodied Dyche's direct style, are no longer regulars.
00:55Instead, smaller, more technical players now feature.
00:59The focus has shifted from brute force dominance to picking openings in play, even as set-pieces remain a key aspect.
01:06While both styles have merit, direct play, long balls, throw-ins and set-piece proficiency has regained importance in the Premier League.
01:18Yet Everton were exposed from dead ball situations in Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham,
01:23with Mickey van der Ven scoring twice from corners, rootlessly exploiting a previous strength.
01:31Though multiple factors contributed to the defeat, it was largely decided by the set-pieces.
01:37Tottenham under Thomas Frank are known for dead ball routines.
01:40And Everton currently have no set-piece coach.
01:43Charlie Adam, who oversaw that area last season, left over the summer.
01:46And his duties have been absorbed by Moyes' coaching staff.
01:51The club may now look to appoint a specialist drawing on insights from Chris Howarth's Insight Sport,
01:57which previously provided set-piece analysis to top-flight teams.
02:02Moyes and his backroom team will be eager to prevent a repeat of Sunday's vulnerabilities,
02:09restoring the set-piece edge that once made Everton so formidable.
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