Everton boss David Moyes must find way to solve Iliman Ndiaye puzzle – Premier League hits and misses

Everton must find way to solve Ndiaye puzzle

Ask any supporter of the opposition to have faced Everton this season, and most will tell you that for all their offensive issues, they have a player in Iliman Ndiaye.

Stop Ndiaye, and you stop Everton. He has three goals but no assists. The problem emerging, however, in this wretched run of five goals in 11 league games – nine of which Everton haven’t scored in – is that Ndiaye has looked like he’s been operating in a parallel universe to his team-mates. Isolated and at times out of sync.

Put simply, the Senegalese playmaker has struggled to impose himself. Against Villa, he won possession seven times – more than any other player – but he mustered just one touch in the opposition box. Zero chances created, zero take-ons attempted.

On one occasion, Jesper Lindstrom only required a simple two-yard pass into his feet on the edge of the box but somehow he was wayward in his execution.

Even for Ollie Watkins’ crucial strike, Ndiaye tried to halt the Villa counter but in trying to get involved it only led to a mix-up with Jarrad Branthwaite. For all the nice touches and close ball control, last summer’s big signing is nowhere near as effective as he could be.

If David Moyes is to eventually solve Everton’s problems in front of goal, he needs to utilise Ndiaye better than his predecessor.
Ben Grounds

‘Ashley Cole vibes…Lewis-Skelly is set for greatness’

‘Where are all the English left-backs’, we cried.

England apparently have a problem now Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw are struggling to make impressions at the top level for various reasons.

England don’t need to worry though. Miles Lewis-Skelly is the answer. And Thomas Tuchel was at The Emirates to witness it first-hand.

The 18-year-old was phenomenal, again. Right from the first whistle he snapped into a tackle and released Raheem Sterling through on goal. That set the tone. And he didn’t relent.

Tottenham are a dangerous team down the right flank with Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski but you wouldn’t have known based on this game. Lewis-Skelly saw all comers off with a performance full of tenacity, class and an amazing maturity.

No player made more tackles for Arsenal (4), won possession more times (6) and had a higher passing accuracy (93.8 per cent) than Lewis-Skelly as the statistics backed up the visuals.

There were real Ashley Cole vibes about what we witnessed. Arsenal and England have such a talent on their hands.
Lewis Jones

Can anyone stop Isak and Newcastle?

Newcastle’s games are playing out like a classic rom-com at the moment – another match, another win. And another couple of goals and assists from Alexander Isak.

Another sign that the Magpies are only heading one way – up.

And Isak is a huge part of their recent success, which includes nine wins in a row in all competitions. He scored his 18th Premier League goal of the season on Wednesday, as well as his 13th assist for Anthony Gordon’s goal.

Isak is just the fourth different player to score in eight successive Premier League appearances, after Jamie Vardy (twice for Leicester), Ruud van Nistelrooy (twice for Manchester United), and Daniel Sturridge (for Liverpool).

He has been labelled as the Premier League best striker currently, and given his numbers, it is hard to argue with that assessment.

Along with the likes of Sandro Tonali, Newcastle are finally reaping the rewards of their transfer strategy. Now they are into the top four and it is going to take something special to stop them.
Charlotte Marsh

Downturn in goals adds to Leicester’s woes

Leicester have goal problem. Prior to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s appointment they had scored in every Premier League game except one, but this was their fourth blank of a now six-match losing run, during which they have netted only twice.

If they could make life as simple for their own goalkeeper they’d be out of danger in no time, but the Foxes have the second worst defence in the Premier League. They’ve seen this defeat against Crystal Palace before; performances under the new boss have been better than results, but they are not good enough in either box.

Realistically, they will have to score their way out of trouble – this defence isn’t going to improve any time soon. So Jamie Vardy’s barren run without a goal, stretching back to the start of their losing streak, is a serious problem.

Relying on a 38-year-old striker always presented a risk, and Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka do not have the firepower to replace him.

Further quality incomings at one end of the pitch or the other – or ideally both – look a must if the Foxes are to stay up. But after their PSR concerns in recent years, that may be too much to ask.
Ron Walker

Wolves’ weak defence still an issue

New boss Vitor Pereira has made Wolves more compact since his arrival but back-to-back 3-0 defeats in the Premier League underline the defensive improvement still required if this group of players are to retain their top-flight status for next season.

Emmanuel Agbadou was included for his Premier League debut but endured some awkward moments, while Santi Bueno and Matt Doherty were also culpable in allowing too much space inside their own box for the second and third Newcastle goals.

Pereira will need more from his attackers too, having created more than enough opportunities to score at St James’ Park and in that home defeat to Nottingham Forest. But it is the defence, the worst in the Premier League, that remains the biggest concern.

Adam Bate

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