Jack Harrison Continues to Thrive Amongst the Chaos at Everton

by Gary McCarty  |   05/09/2024  0 Comments  [Jump to last]

In a team in which defensive solidity is prided over anything else, it can be difficult for attack-minded players to thrive.

With Sean Dyche continuing to operate with a low block at Everton, even the most advanced players in his nominal 4-4-1-1 formation are forced to retreat deep into their own half.

And thus, when possession is won back, those with the ball at their feet have very few targets to pick out higher up the pitch.

For all the flaws in Dyche’s set-up, one attacking player continues to thrive: Jack Harrison. And the 27-year-old will surely prove vital in Everton’s bid to avoid the drop this term…

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Glass Half-Full

Heading into the first international break of the 2024/25 campaign, Everton sat bottom of the Premier League table with a goal difference of -8 after three successive defeats.

As such, you can forgive fans, pundits and punters alike for their scepticism about the Toffees’ season.

One of the most popular bets placed in those opening weeks of the campaign was Everton to be relegated, with punters across the globe accessing perks like the Betwinner bonus code in a bid to claim a welcome promotion that afforded them a match on their first deposit – with their qualifying wager no doubt placed on the Toffees to experience the dreaded drop.

You can understand the pessimism of punters, particularly as there’s no column in the Premier League table detailing underlying data: something that, in lieu of much else, gives Everton fans reasons to be very mildly cheerful.

Although they were outclassed against Tottenham, Dyche’s men enjoyed some success against Brighton in the first half at Goodison Park; Ashley Young’s red card after 66 minutes ultimately ending any hopes they had of closing the 0-2 deficit that would go on to become a 0-3 defeat.

The 2-3 loss at the hands of Bournemouth was catastrophic in nature, with Everton completely dominant through the opening 70 minutes – the less said about the remaining 20, plus injury time, the better.

But it’s a game that the Toffees performed much better in, enjoying more possession of the ball than in prior outings and delivering 1.97 in attacking xG, with eight shots on target and the same number of corners won.

Individual errors and lapses in concentration would prove costly, in the end, but this was an encouraging performance in an attacking sense – with Harrison once again in the thick of things.

On a Wing and a Prayer

All told, the 27-year-old will be disappointed that he was able to summon up just six goal involvements in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

But Harrison’s bold performances on the right flank, highlighted by his bravery in possession and willingness to take his marker on, are key attributes to an Everton system that relies on individual skill to haul the deep-lying team higher up the pitch.

Harrison won seven of his eleven duels against Bournemouth, was fouled twice, completed 89% of his passes and created five goalscoring chances.

Of course, these aren’t the stats that make the headlines in a sport dominated by goals, assists and clean sheets, but it showcases the winger’s willingness to put in the hard yards and deliver big performances for his manager.

The only thing missing from Harrison’s game are those elusive goal involvements… if he can start to deliver more of those, he will help Everton to improve in the final third of the pitch.

And that could prove pivotal in their bid to climb clear of the relegation places.

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