Opinion: 83% Pass Accuracy Star Could Put Sean Dyche’s Job at Risk as New Issue Arises at Everton

As November began, optimism filled Goodison Park as Everton entered the month on a five-game unbeaten streak.

However, that hope was quickly replaced by concern following a late goal from Adam Armstrong in the 86th minute at St. Mary’s on November 2, which pushed the Toffees back into the relegation struggle.

Losing to Southampton—a team that had only managed a single point from their first nine games—was disappointing enough, but it also exposed deeper issues that could impact Everton’s season.

One significant concern was the role of Iliman Ndiaye, arguably Everton’s best player so far, and how he’s being utilized under Sean Dyche.

In the Southampton match, Ndiaye had one of his quietest performances for Everton, managing only 26 touches, the second-lowest tally among his starting teammates (as per Sofascore), before he was substituted for Jack Harrison in the 62nd minute.

Comparatively, Jesper Lindstrom, playing on the opposite wing, recorded 49 touches, though he played 26 more minutes.

Ndiaye’s involvement wouldn’t be as concerning if his touches were in threatening areas.

However, a look at his heat map reveals that most of his on-ball actions were closer to the halfway line than the goal—far from ideal positioning for the team’s key attacker.

This suggests that Dyche’s decision to play Ndiaye wide may be limiting his effectiveness.

While Ndiaye has shown his adaptability, he spent the majority of last season playing centrally for Marseille.

Given his talent, it might be time for Dyche to try him in a more central role, where he’s likely to have a greater impact.

Ndiaye’s peripheral positioning left him relatively uninvolved in the Southampton game; he completed just 10 passes (with 83% accuracy) and lost possession seven times.

Dyche faces a dilemma with Ndiaye’s positioning, especially as Dwight McNeil has performed well centrally, contributing six goal involvements in the league.

However, McNeil traditionally played on the left during his time at Burnley, and there’s no reason he couldn’t thrive there for Everton as well.

Moving Ndiaye centrally could not only enhance his influence but might also create a promising partnership with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, potentially energizing Everton’s attack and easing the pressure on Dyche.

Adapting Ndiaye’s role could be a crucial move for Dyche to turn Everton’s fortunes around and possibly secure his own position.

The shift would allow Ndiaye to play a more impactful role, which could be vital for the club’s success in the challenging months ahead.