It’s honest to say that Sean Dyche and his Everton aspect have struggled up to now within the 2024/25 marketing campaign. The Toffees are at present languishing in sixteenth within the Premier League desk, with 5 factors to their identify up to now.
The Merseyside outfit have managed only one win, with their different two factors coming from attracts, and have misplaced a irritating 4 video games. That features two totally different events through which they threw away 2-0 results in lose 3-2. The only victory up to now got here towards Crystal Palace, a 2-1 win, and so they drew towards Leicester Metropolis and, most not too long ago, Newcastle.
Jordan Pickford was the Toffees’ hero final Sunday towards the North Jap aspect, saving a penalty from former Everton man Anthony Gordon to make sure they acquired a degree.
Gordon’s beginnings at Everton
As soon as the person who many Everton followers believed would assist them reestablish themselves as the most effective sides in English soccer, it was a poisonous finish to Anthony Gordon’s time at Goodison Park.
The winger left in bitter circumstances, handing in a switch request within the 2023 January switch window after a failed transfer to Chelsea the earlier summer season. Newcastle got here calling, so he moved to the North East for £45m together with add-ons.
On the face of issues, the England worldwide didn’t actually set the world alight for the Toffees throughout his time on the membership. He performed 78 video games within the well-known blue shirt, scoring simply seven objectives and grabbing eight assists. With that being stated, he confirmed loads of promise due to his direct nature and fearlessness on the ball.
Gordon has since excelled below Eddie Howe at St James’ Park. In 73 appearances for the North East aspect, he has 11 objectives and 15 assists, with ten objectives and 11 assists coming in 35 top-flight video games final time period.
Now, he’s a hated determine on the blue aspect of Merseyside, largely due to the messy method he left the membership, thought of by many Toffees followers as poisonous. Nevertheless, Everton now have a star who’s proving to be simply nearly as good, if not higher, than their former quantity 10. That participant is Dwight McNeil.

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How McNeil compares to Gordon
In what has been a bleak marketing campaign up to now for the Toffees, winger McNeil has had an outstanding time of issues below Dyche. The 24-year-old already has three objectives and two assists for the Toffees in seven top-flight video games.
As per Sofascore, he leads the way in which for aim involvements within the Premier League from Everton gamers, by two objectives and assists. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is second with three mixed aim involvements to his identify up to now.
Not solely is he statistically Everton’s most necessary participant from a inventive standpoint this time period, however he’s additionally comfortably outscoring their former winger Gordon. The Newcastle quantity 10 has two objectives and is but to register an help this time period within the Premier League, fewer than McNeil.
When evaluating the underlying stats of every winger, courtesy of Squawka, NcNeil as soon as once more leads the way in which in a number of key metrics. For instance, the Everton quantity seven averages 3.4 probabilities created per recreation, in comparison with simply 2.3 from Gordon. He additionally competes a mean of 9 ahead passes every recreation, with the Newcastle winger far decrease at simply 4.8.
McNeil vs. Gordon key metrics in 24/25 PL in contrast |
||
---|---|---|
Stat (per 90) |
McNeil |
Gordon |
Pictures on the right track |
0.8 |
0.6 |
Possibilities created |
3.4 |
2.3 |
Crosses accomplished |
3.2 |
2 |
Cross accuracy |
45.83% |
41.94% |
Via balls |
1.1 |
0.3 |
Ahead passes |
9 |
4.8 |
Take-ons accomplished |
1.4 |
1.7 |
Take-on completion charge |
52.94% |
52.38% |
Stats from Squawka |
The distinction between the 2 this season is evident, and that is absolutely one thing Toffees followers could be pleased with. In any case, McNeil is an extremely “underrated” participant, as soccer statistician Statman Dave put it.
From an Everton perspective, they are going to be hoping the left-footed wizard can proceed his stellar begin to the season, as they give the impression of being to proceed choosing up factors and steering effectively away from the underside three as soon as once more.

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