Everton have had few shining lights throughout this abysmal campaign, which culminated in Frank Lampard’s sacking late last month.
It has left Sean Dyche with the unenviable task of fixing a club in complete disarray, as they seemed destined to fall to the first relegation in their history.
To turn things around he must fundamentally change everything that his predecessors before him have done, except perhaps one thing.
How did Lampard get the best out of Iwobi?
One of Lampard’s few impressive feats was to transform the career of Alex Iwobi, which had been dwindling out following his £34m move back in 2019. His transfer was almost a microcosm for the whole club, as his aimless purchase mirrored a career that had stagnated. The Nigerian’s best position was unknown, and his untapped potential remained just that.
But, when the 44-year-old came in, he chose to move the £120k-per-week winger centrally, where he operated as part of a three-man midfield.
Instantly, he became a revelation.
His tireless work rate in the engine room was finally realised, and at the start of this season, he boasted six goal contributions before the World Cup began.
What has happened to Iwobi since?
Since then, however, he has struggled, and in Dyche’s first game in charge, he returned to the right wing.
Whilst his 4-4-2 system might not facilitate an attack-minded central midfielder like Iwobi, to truly reignite him to those levels he must find a way to fit him in centrally.
In the long-term, he could actually operate in the role undertaken by Abdoulaye Doucoure against Arsenal, partnering the striker as the first line of press.
Anything to return him to the area where he is most deadly.
Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson was full of praise for him earlier on in the campaign, as he claimed:
“He was brilliant at the weekend.
“He is looking like a top player. We are seeing more quality from him in a deeper role. He is just getting better and better. The system that Frank plays really suits him. Iwobi is a much better player than he was two years ago. He is improving game by game.”
This came just before Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison had suggested he “should be creating more” for the Toffees.
Whilst he had initially proved him wrong, he must now recapture that form to ensure it was not simply a purple patch. Iwobi’s revival could be integral to their survival bid, and Dyche must prioritise it.
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