Everton finally picked up their first point of the Premier League season on Saturday, despite once again surrendering a lead.
However, this time they at least managed to hold on to secure a draw, thus thwarting Leicester City at their home stadium.
The match started well for the visitors, who did create enough chances to be ahead by some distance.
In the end, it took a piece of Iliman Ndiaye magic to break the deadlock though, collecting Ashley Young’s incisive driven pass, dancing past one challenge and firing a low shot off the inside of the left post.
Now, the Senegal international has proven himself completely undroppable for Sean Dyche, alongside two of his teammates.
Although neither are receiving as much fanfare as Ndiaye, and rightly so given how mesmeric the former Sheffield United trickster has been thus far, the importance of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jesper Lindstrom is already clear to see.
That is, despite both having missed some golden chances in recent games that would have put points on the board earlier.
Iliman Ndiaye of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Everton FC at The K…
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Regardless of this profligacy, this new front three has become an undroppable force, mainly due to what they offer away from the goal rather than the threat they pose.
After all, Ndiaye and Lindstrom are both supremely skilful and technically proficient, whilst Calvert-Lewin offers a calming and controlled presence up front to hold the ball up and bring them into play.
When this trio features together, it takes so much pressure off the defence, as they know that very few of their long balls will ever come straight back at them due to the hard-working trio and how they will fight for possession.
Ndiaye stunned Ashley Williams against Leicester City, drawing particular praise to further emphasise his importance.
Alas, the biggest reason why they are all undroppable is unfortunately due to their dire replacements should they go off.
Everton’s substitutes have let them down all season
It’s not Dyche’s fault that the downgrade between his first and second-choice striker and winger is so stark that it completely upsets the balance of the team.
However, the proof is there to be seen, evidenced by their recent penchant to throw away leads.
Against AFC Bournemouth, it’s no surprise that just minutes after Ndiaye’s substitution they conceded the first, and then when Calvert-Lewin came off a further two were shipped.
Then, at Aston Villa, yet again Ndiaye’s substitution saw control ebb away, as one of the few truly gifted attackers they have was withdrawn.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton is replaced by team-mate Beto during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC…
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
When Beto or Jack Harrison enter the field in place of this aforementioned trio, chaos ensues, as the former simply does not have the finesse required to hold up play like Calvert-Lewin, whilst the winger runs himself down blind alleyways rather than protecting and recycling possession.
They are giving up the ball so easily, and therefore allowing their opposition to unleash wave after wave of attacks on their defence.
That’s why Calvert-Lewin, Lindstrom and Ndiaye, who were all particularly impressive on Saturday, no longer can be dropped.
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