Everton have many problems, the bulk of which are not expected to be solved this season.
After all, they are so unbelievably deep-rooted, having been ingrained within the club after years upon years of misconduct.
Their financial woes and the long-term effects are potentially to be fixed within the next decade they are that severe, but many on-pitch issues are ones which Sean Dyche does not help himself with.
One outstanding problem position has emerged over the last few months in particular, and the answer is now staring the former Burnley boss right in the face.
Everton’s problem position
Whilst people will rightly point to their inability to finish as their top issue, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto both largely firing blanks, there are other problems too which certainly contribute to that profligacy.
In my opinion, a lack of offensive impetus from the full-back positions severely blunts all of Everton’s attacks and leaves them with far more options than the average Premier League side.
The modern-day full-back is an imperative cog in most sides nowadays, with Liverpool and Manchester City having led the way with the likes of Joao Cancelo, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson popularising the role.
And whilst Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman were once the Toffees’ own version of these stars, age has not been kind to the now-retired former, and the injury-prone latter.
However, a return to fitness for the Irishman should fix this problem position with ease.
Sean Dyche must start Seamus Coleman
After all, in his heyday Coleman was one of the Premier League’s most effective full-backs down the right flank.
With pace, dynamism and a fierce strike, he struck up a fine relationship with the aforementioned Baines as Everton so nearly charged to Champions League football under Roberto Martinez.
Whilst his assets might have declined somewhat since then, the£55k-a-week stalwart still has the intelligence to push forward when possible, and has the technical quality that is severely lacking when Ben Godfrey features.
Naturally a centre-back, it should come as no surprise that the former Norwich City man is averaging a 70% pass accuracy and just 0.2 key passes per game in the league, via Sofascore.
To solve that issue, Coleman must be given a run of games to once again exert his influence. After all, it is no coincidence that such struggles throughout the entire campaign have come with the 35-year-old having made just two league starts.
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