Uncertain risks amid breakthrough opportunities. How will the change of coach at Everton impact Mykolenko?
The champion analyzed the situation regarding the appointment of a new Everton coach through the lens of potential changes in the Liverpool team, and most importantly – the fate of the Ukrainian footballer.
Who is Moyes, and what can Everton expect from him?
Moyes is an experienced coach, now 61 years old. He has signed a contract for 2.5 years. The Scot has taken over a team currently sitting in 16th place in the league, with only a 1-point cushion from the relegation zone. The statistics speak volumes about the "Toffees'" struggles – the team has only 3 wins in 19 matches since the start of the season. Only one club in the Premier League has a worse win rate, and only two have a similar one. Thus, it's natural that the sole objective laid out for Moyes is "to save the team from relegation." Although the coach couldn't help but reference his past with the club in the context of the future after his appointment, his priorities are quite clearly defined.
It turns out that his time at Everton from 2002 to 2013 was perhaps the peak of Moyes' coaching career. Under his leadership, the "Toffees" reached the FA Cup final in 2009 and finished in the top 8 of the Premier League nine times. At one point, his Everton even jumped to 4th place in the 2004/05 season, a result that allowed them to qualify for the main European competition.
No, after leaving the Liverpool club, there were still victories in the FA Community Shield in 2013, and most importantly – a triumph in the UEFA Conference League in 2023; however, these were victories first as a coach who fulfilled the mandatory program, and (in the case of the European competition) later as a manager who was clearly of mediocre level and failed to meet expectations.
After his time at Goodison Park, where Moyes made a name for himself as a young and promising specialist capable of more, he went on to manage Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and West Ham twice. It's not hard to notice that after the "Red Devils," no more top clubs came calling for the Scot. At Old Trafford, he was seen not just as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson – one of the greatest managers in football history believed that his compatriot was worthy of such a role. However, Moyes struggled with the pressure and expectations, and he didn’t last even a season in Manchester. At the time of his dismissal, United was in an unprecedentedly shameful 7th place, and he was fired when the team lost all chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Significant changes in the coaching staff for the sake of stabilizing the situation
A king is made by his entourage, and no coach can achieve set goals without qualified assistants. Moyes has brought Leighton Baines, Billy McKinlay, and Alan Irvine into his circle.
In the context of Mykolenko, the most important figure appears to be the last one. Leighton Baines is a former left-back for Everton during Moyes' tenure. After finishing his playing career, he worked as a youth team coach at the club. Over 420 matches for Everton, he scored 39 goals, which is a significant achievement. Baines was the type of full-back who was equally active on his half of the pitch and in the opponent's territory. Most importantly, he was successful in assisting and even finishing attacks. These are aspects in which Mykolenko has needed improvement in the Premier League for a while. The arrival of such a specialist could help address these gaps. However, Baines can also provide valuable advice on defensive actions.
0Moyes also noted another issue in the team's play, directly involving Mykolenko.
This is a critique not only directed at the players responsible for creating plays but also at the defense in general, and specifically at Mykolenko. Of course, Moyes' primary task is to improve the team's attacking play, as under Dyche, the "Toffees'" actions in the opponent's half were lacking variety, and a total of 15 goals scored speaks for itself. This is the second-worst figure in the league. However, the defenders' actions, particularly during set pieces, and Mykolenko as part of the defensive quartet have drawn negative comments from the media and dissatisfaction from fans on multiple occasions.
Inviting a specialized competitor
Perhaps the main takeaway from Moyes' first days at Everton for Mykolenko is the radical plans of the "Toffees" to acquire a player for the left-back position, as reported by authoritative sources. In the case of the Liverpool club, this is not just an effort to enhance competition for the position but also to resolve a long-standing issue.
1The fact is that besides the Ukrainian, there are currently no specialized left-backs in the team. This automatically makes Mykolenko the only choice. Since July 2023, experienced utility player Ashley Young has been at Everton, who has typically been used on the left side of defense in case of injury or suspension of the former Dynamo player. Another option is to shift right-back Nathan Patterson to the opposite flank. Specific names have not yet emerged in the media, but it is clear that the Liverpool club intends to resolve this issue in January. So, whoever becomes the new partner and a real or nominal threat to Mykolenko's position in the starting lineup, it seems that the Ukrainian is entering a new phase in his career among the "Toffees."
A chance for long-awaited progress or a continuation of stagnation?
Being the number one left-back on a team that has long been far from even being a mid-table Premier League side presents Mykolenko with a double-edged reality. On one hand, there are few threats to his playing time under such circumstances – the Ukrainian only misses games when he cannot physically participate or when there are objective reasons such as a ban from playing. In other words, factors that are independent of his playing form. However, on the other hand, an equally important factor is that Mykolenko's development as a footballer has clearly stagnated.
2Three years ago, the graduate of the most decorated club in Ukraine joined Everton as one of the most promising wing-backs in Eastern Europe. He started justifying the trust placed in him from his very first matches. However, over time, the Ukrainian's progress began to fade and then completely stalled. So much so that Mykolenko faces criticism both in the opponent's half and near his own goal. The latter was previously less frequent. The introduction of another left-back into the "Toffees" squad could serve as the very push that finally leads to a transfer and a move to a higher quality level. However, it could also exacerbate the stagnation he has found himself in for the past year and a half. Which "path" will Mykolenko choose? It all still depends solely on him.