Premier League: Team of the Week VIII

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Coach: Ronald Koeman (Everton) 

Formation: 3-4-3

It was a case of Master vs Apprentice when Ronald Koeman’s Everton visited the Etihad, the Dutchman coming up against his old friend and protégé Pep Guardiola, whose Manchester City side boasted a 100% home record. Koeman began the game with a 4-3-3 formation to combat City’s back-line and to attempt to prevent them from playing the ball out from the back. Defensively it may have helped shut the Citizens out in the first-half, but with Everton seeing little of the ball, Koeman switched to  4-4-2 with a diamond in midfield.

The tactical switch worked wonders, Everton still magnificent defensively, and looking far more threatening on the counter, and they finally got their just desserts with Romelu Lukaku’s superb solo run and finish putting them ahead. They couldn’t quite hold on for all three points, after Nolito’s goal finally ended their resistance, but it was a superb tactical show from Koeman, who drilled his side to defend for each other and show fighting spirit at the back, whilst also not being afraid to take risks and adjust his sides set-up to try to pinch a decisive goal. Some may call it negative, others would call it a clever. We loved it, and Ronald is well worth his money as our Manager of the Week.