Jordan Pickford has lifted the lid on why he believes both players and fans have taken to David Moyes’ return and how he believes Everton are now “suffocating” opponents. The Blues host the 61-year-old’s previous employers West Ham United on Saturday and go into the fixture unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games.
Although the more attack-minded approach has led to the England number one not keeping a clean sheet for Everton since the 4-0 romp against Leicester City on February 1, Pickford believes Moyes’ positive tactics are enabling the Blues to inflict more damage on their opponents. He told the ECHO: “We lost the first game against Villa but I think the manager only had one or two days to get his points across. It was a quick turnover, but still a good performance.
“I know we want to be winning the games, we’ve had three draws in a row now against Manchester United, Brentford and Wolves but we’re building that confidence of not getting beaten. We’re having that no losing mentality, which is always key and the top teams do it very well throughout the course of a season.
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“Touch wood, we could remain unbeaten for the rest of the season but we all know that might not happen so it’s all about how you bounce back. The manager has been really good and his effect has been really good on us.
“Tactically he’s been really good and monitoring things on the pitch. The stats are all there, we’re creating a lot more chances now.
“That’s probably the biggest stat. We’re making teams feel under pressure by creating a lot more opportunities and suffocating teams.”
Moyes was previously in charge of Everton between 2002-13, steering them to nine top eight finishes, including their best-ever Premier League placing of fourth in 2004/05, and Pickford, who established himself as first choice at his boyhood club Sunderland under the Glaswegian, earning his £25million move to Goodison Park, believes that the manager is making the most of the familiar surroundings he knows well. He said: “The tactical and game plan side of things has been very clear. We’re sticking with it.
“When we beat Crystal Palace, we didn’t play at our best but he knows it’s all about improvement on the training pitch and taking those ideas into matchdays. We’ve been working on ways to find a win, how to find a result and that’s what we’ve been doing well and it’s been good.
“The gaffer was here years ago. He knows the club inside out and he knows how to get Goodison rocking and knows how to get us in the mood – that’s the key.
“It takes two to tango. We need to gives the fans something for the fans to get going and he’s had a big effect on that.
“I’ve known him a long time. When he’s got a message to get across, he tells you straight.
“You know yourself, but if you need to do better in training, he’ll tell you. Nobody is different.
“He’s got great experience in this building (Finch Farm) and at the stadium and he knows how to get the best out of people.”
Saturday’s game against West Ham United, which is Junior Fan Day, starts the countdown of matches you can count on one hand before Everton departing Goodison Park for their new 52,888 capacity stadium. Five young fans aged 6-11 are going to take up roles, including a mini groundsperson, mini presenter/stadium announcer, mini club photographer, mini content producer and… a mini Jordan Pickford!
The youngsters, who were invited to Finch Farm on Monday to meet their staff member and to take part in a photoshoot and promotional video where they found out more about their specific roles on the matchday – plus come face-to-face with Pickford – will shadow a relevant member of staff for the day and then take part in tasks including interviewing players, reading the teams out to the crowd and helping prepare the pitch.
The 31-year-old is delighted that the club’s loyal but long-suffering supporters are now finally able to enjoy their final days at the first purpose-built football ground in England before their summer switch to the Mersey waterfront.
He said: “The atmosphere has been brilliant. I think we’ve given the fans the opportunity to create a brilliant atmosphere.
“We’ve been working hard on how we work the ball and creating chances. You know what Goodison is like, the fans just want to see opportunities and when you’ve not got the ball, working hard without it and I think we’ve shown that in the last few games.”
