Everton vs Bournemouth: Four home defeats from four games… why have Toffees struggled so much at Goodison?

Since November 2022, Everton’s home format has read like the proverbial sleepy Welsh town: LLLLWWLWDLLLWLLLL.

Last Saturday, promoted Luton ensured an unwanted extension of that series. It is now thirteen defeats in nineteen home games – their worst form in the Premier League.

Sean Dyche avoided becoming the first manager in top division history to lose his first four home games of a season without scoring a goal, but that was hardly a crumb of consolation. He still looked exhausted, soaked and out of ideas as the seconds ticked away on the sideline.

It is now seven defeats at Goodison from their last eight, twelve from their last sixteen.

Luton’s man of the match, Alfie Doughty, said: “It’s not an easy place to get to but we’ve shown such good character.”

Clearly the first part of this statement is incorrect. Goodison Park has gone soft. The bear pit on Gwladys Street has lost its growl. Next season the club plans to move to their new home at Bramley Moore Dock somewhere.

Goodison has been the base of a passionate community for 132 seasons and home to Everton Football Club. In what could prove to be the final campaign, fans have yet to hear the sound of victory music or dance to ‘It’s a Grand Old Team’ played full-time over the tannoy.

It is difficult to determine exactly when and how the Old Lady’s aura disappeared.

Even during Carlo Ancelotti’s only full season at the club, when Everton were three points off a spot in the Europa Conference League, they ranked 15th for points in the home league, losing nine times.

The impact of the fans returning after the pandemic was somewhat neutralized by the appointment of Rafael Benitez, and it is only towards the sharp end of the last two seasons under Frank Lampard and Dyche that Goodison has started to look anything like its former self.

The team has not scored more than once in any of its last 17 home games in the league (11 goals). They scored just once in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace almost a year ago.

Dyche became hugely frustrated with his side’s failure to build on the momentum generated by successive wins over Brentford in the league and Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup. In front of their would-be supporters, it appears that a mental block is plaguing those in royal blue.

Treating the game for Football specialSue Smith rightly commented: “You could see the nerves after Luton scored. They looked a bit scared. They were so much better away from home. Goodison must do better and they must take their chances.”

“It’s two years of exactly the same thing,” Dyche said. “There has to be a stronger mentality to do those ugly things, the hard yards, because that’s what makes teams successful.

“I call it being fine, and being fine doesn’t get you anything. You have to be on it all the time. We’ve just finished a big shift and then, lo and behold, we step back again, and it makes me angry.”

Everton have had more possession in eight of their 45 Premier League games since the start of last season. They have only won once, lost six and drawn the other.

That victory came against West Ham in September last season. Under Dyche they have only had more ball possession than their opponents against Sheffield United and Luton this season.

Having the deception to penetrate parties eager to sit aside and exploit spaces on the transition is an obvious problem, especially on home soil.

Representatives of potential new owners 777 Partners, watching from the stands last Saturday, would certainly have left no doubt about the scale of the challenge to reverse the club’s fortunes.

Dyche met with them a fortnight ago and he added: “They mainly asked us questions about what we think of the club and where change is needed and what we can do.

“I try to give an honest picture of what I think the situation is, by changing the narrative. I explained that it is my job and our job to do it and I think there was another sign of it: a lot of intention , good opportunities, the killer edge has to change.”

Dyche is only learning what his predecessors went through during the Farhad Moshiri era, despite raking in almost £700 million during the Iranian businessman’s tenure.

For the first time since January, the director’s box was full, but the presence of potential new owners did not cheer up the mood. The latest series of home defeats is virtually unprecedented in the club’s history.

Everton have lost each of the first four home games of a league match for only the second time, including in the top flight during the 1958/59 season under Ian Buchan. He was fired a month later.

The mood music seemed to have changed following the league and cup away wins against Brentford and Villa – both of which showcased the side’s capabilities – but there is a continuing problem for the current group when faced with repeating such performances for their own team. followers.

A real frustration that dates back to Marco Silva’s time at the club is the results against newly promoted sides. One or two defeats may be seen as a blip, but a pattern of defeats has emerged. There are now nine defeats in fourteen such matches.

Is it a case of complacency or do Everton simply lack the ability to penetrate teams eager to cede possession?

Speaking Monday night footballLampard told Sky Sports: “Goodison Park, it can be a great place. I think sometimes some of the bigger hitters in the league come there and we’ve been able to get results there. That’s been going on since me and happened a long time ago.” me.

“But when you are given the responsibility of a match and you have a promoted team, it brings different challenges: can you control a match? What can you do with the ball? Can you destroy a team? And of course , when these teams come up (from the championship), these teams are now very organized.

“They are ready to go. They know that if they can suppress you and stop you, these teams will be ready to do that. I’m sure Luton with a back five will make it very difficult, and you will go there with your nose in.” front with a decor piece; it’s a consistent theme. It’s something that’s frustrating because it (Goodison Park) should be a fortress. “

Lampard added: “The reality is that where Everton are now, in this current moment – where they were before me, when I was there, and since – these games are huge. Even if you want to make it difficult for As a Arsenal or a (Manchester) City come to Goodison, you have to collect points in these (bottom half) games.”

Bournemouth are the visitors to Merseyside this weekend. The Cherries are yet to win in the Premier League this season, as Luton did, but they see Saturday’s encounter as ripe for three points.

Everton have scored just twice in their last six home games and last season they recorded the most home league defeats (10) and the fewest home league goals in the club’s history. The 16 players scored was the fewest of any team in the division.

When asked by Jamie Carragher whether the failed reign of Ancelotti and Silva has proven Everton to be ‘unmanageable’, Lampard replied: ‘I think it is a challenge.

“I don’t think unmanageable is quite the right word. There are certainly a lot of challenges because all these managers would have had their own ideas and philosophies, and I think Everton is one of the unique clubs in the league. I felt that a lot of good things about it.

“The fans pretty much kept us awake when we stayed up – what they did was incredible and they pushed the boys further. But they also have a real desire for what they want to see. Part of it is great, the basic principles of football: the passion, the tackles and I was completely with that.

“But sometimes as a coach you naturally want to try to go a step further and play a little more. And you want to try to play those games where you are expected to have the ball and do good things.” I think it’s a club where you really have to take advantage of what the fans want because it can be a powerful force.

“With the managers – you have had managers who have won the Champions League, you have had managers who have been there, like Marco Silva and now that he is doing so great at Fulham – you might understand that that unique side that is so good for Everton can sometimes be a challenge from a coaching point of view.”

All six of the club’s home wins last season were nil, five 1-0 successes to go with the 3-0 win over Palace. When it comes to scoring the first goal, the Evertonians are all too aware of the importance under Dyche, who has taken just two points after going behind during his reign.

Conversely, Everton have not lost in nine games when scoring first under their current manager and winning six.

One of those victories came against Bournemouth on the final day of last season, as Everton retained their top status for the 70th consecutive season.

Lampard reiterated Dyche’s recent maxim of shaking off the past and changing the narrative.

“The amount of Everton fans working behind the scenes, the kit men, the people there, everyone there is Everton,” he continued. “It’s almost like there’s a good and a bad about that.

“The great thing is that they are living it and loving it and they are so desperate for the club because they feel it. But there was also something where they thought, ‘Oh, we’ve been here before, this is going to be like this.’ .” a tough season’, you know that cynicism sometimes. I do it as a fan.

“I was surprised by the extent to which that happened, I’m not talking about the fans, but I was surprised by the extent to which I was referred to relegation.

“It was a despair that almost ran through the entire club. That was what I felt I had to try to change the most. I’ve had quite a few meetings with players and staff where I said we have to lose this.”

A mentality that breeds negativity must be swept away from this weekend if Everton are to truly break out of their current domestic cycle of torment.

Follow Everton vs Bournemouth on Sky Sports’ digital platforms from Saturday 1.30pm; start at 3 p.m.; free highlights available from 5.15pm