Why No 10 role has unlocked McNeil's playmaking for Everton

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 7.

Player analysis: Dwight McNeil (Everton)

A tactical tweak by Everton manager Sean Dyche has brought the very best out of McNeil in the early weeks of 2024/25.

McNeil has moved into a No 10 role after summer additions Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom were handed starting berths out wide by Dyche.

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This tweak has provided Everton’s attack with a little more unpredictability.

McNeil’s ability to switch with one of the wingers at any point - coupled with his slippery movement and ball-carrying qualities - are making him a difficult player for opponents to contain.

The 24-year-old, who has been nominated for September's EA SPORTS Player of the Month award, mixes up his runs by moving left, right and in a vertical direction, and he is sure to be a handful for Newcastle United at Goodison Park this weekend.

Where McNeil ranks in 2024/25

Despite Everton’s struggles to pick up points, McNeil has been one of the division’s most productive attacking midfielders across the first six matches.

No player has created more chances, made more through-balls or delivered a greater number of successful crosses than he has.

Ten of McNeil's key passes have been from set-piece situations though, with his cultured left foot a major weapon.

His inswinging free-kick for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to head home against Aston Villa, below, typifies the quality of his deliveries.

Linking up with Calvert-Lewin

McNeil occupies pockets of space in central areas, giving him more opportunities to slip passes in beyond the last defender; a skill he has real penchant for executing.

Calvert-Lewin’s running power often makes the midfielder’s mind up for him, as he displayed when scoring from a well-weighted McNeil through-ball against AFC Bournemouth, which you can see below.

In fact, all five of McNeil’s successful through-balls have found the runs of Calvert-Lewin, making their link-up from those situations the strongest in the Premier League.

Cole Palmer’s relationship with Nicolas Jackson has been well discussed, but the McNeil and Calvert-Lewin partnership has been even better.

Best partnerships for through-balls 24/25

Everton may have only scored seven times in six outings, but no two players come close to the fruitful partnership this duo are developing.

McNeil already has laid on an impressive 10 chances for Calvert-Lewin.

Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are going to have to work hard to close down space for McNeil and Calvert-Lewin.

Best creative partnerships 24/25

Does this data flatter McNeil? Absolutely not.

The winger-turned-attacking midfielder is currently leading the way ahead of some seriously big names when it comes to the underlying numbers around his creativity.

His Expected Assists (xA) are the highest of all top-flight players.

Highest Expected Assists 24/25

While McNeil's far-post corners have been productive, he is also proving to be an imaginative presence from open play inside the final third.

Newcastle would be well advised to close McNeil down when he is within 30 yards of their goal - three of his last four Premier League strikes have been long-range shots from outside the box.

His fabulous curler into the top corner in Everton’s 2-1 win against Crystal Palace must go down as one of the best of his career so far and has rightly been shortlisted for the September 2024 Guinness Goal of the Month award.

McNeil's superb goal v Palace

Newcastle’s deepest-lying midfielders will need to keep their wits about them when the ball is at their feet.

As he showed when dispossessing Amadou Onana before scoring against Aston Villa, McNeil is happy to defend from the front with enthusiasm in an attempt to create turnovers.

The change of role

Using McNeil as a floating No 10 is proving to be a smart call from Dyche.

Operating as a creator in that position, rather than a box-crasher in the mould of Abdoulaye Doucoure, for example, has offered up greater fluidity to his side’s forays forward.

During the 2023/24 campaign, McNeil was mainly used wide on the left, with 54 per cent of his touches in that corridor between the touchline and the 18-yard box.

That has changed dramatically in recent weeks, with only 29 per cent of his involvements on the left flank.

McNeil has proven to be more elusive and significantly more dangerous getting onto the ball in all parts of the opposition half.

Expect McNeil to have a huge say in a second successive Goodison Park encounter.

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