The Blue Frontier - American Everton Analysis

Jake O'Brien at right back and Merlin Röhl ahead of him did not look like Everton's route to a first away league win. They ended up giving Newcastle a problem.
James and Shan discuss a 1-0 win at St James' Park in which Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drove much of Everton's best attacking work, Thierno Barry took the decisive chance and Jordan Pickford preserved the lead with a late save. The focus is on how Everton found outlets on the right, moved the ball forward more quickly and varied their set pieces.
There is credit for seeing the game out with some patience, but also the qualification that Newcastle were poor and still created two dangerous chances. We consider whether O'Brien and Röhl should remain a pairing, Tyrique George's growing influence and how David Moyes manages Barry and Dewsbury-Hall's minutes. Listener comments help frame the debate before a look ahead to Coventry.
LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

David Moyes has clearly been listening to The Blue Frontier. Hayden Hackney and Tyler Dibling get their chance, chaos ensues, and Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
James and Ryan get into the Hackney, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall midfield, the quicker transitions and the quality that turned a chaotic game into a decisive win. Thierno Barry delivers a goal and an assist, Hackney opens his Everton account, and the hosts consider how much of this lineup and approach should carry into the Premier League.
There's also Jack Grealish's disciplinary absence and a trip to Fleetwood Town that gives Everton a very inviting chance to reach a long-awaited cup semi-final. Fleetwood still have to be beaten, but we're allowed to enjoy the draw.
As ever, thanks to everyone whose comments and questions helped shape the episode.

LINKS: https://linktree/thebluefrontier

Everton lost 2-0 at Arsenal in the pouring rain after an early goal left little hope for the visitors. 
James, Shan and Ryan look at how Arsenal played through Everton's midfield, why so much of the attack still went down the left without Jack Grealish, and why Thierno Barry's best chance deserves more credit than another missed-chance verdict.
Then the discussion turns to what David Moyes can change now. Tyler Dibling and Hayden Hackney offered different options from the bench, while Tyrique George and Brennan Johnson were asked to play in a side that rarely attacked quickly. Would a different selection help, or does the approach need to change too?
There's disagreement over whether this squad is worse than last season's, and some practical suggestions for using the players Everton already have.
 
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Everton dragged Chelsea into the kind of physical, aggressive first half David Moyes appeared to want. Five bookings, confrontations all over the pitch and a committed defensive effort kept the match level, even if Everton offered little going forward.
Then Everton switched off. Just 43 seconds after halftime, Jorrel Hato escaped down the side Merlin Röhl and Ainsley Maitland-Niles had been selected to protect, and Pedro Neto put Chelsea ahead. James and Shan break down the lapse, Jordan Pickford's part in the goal and why Everton never found a convincing response.
They also debate Thierno Barry's finishing, Jack Grealish's role, the lack of midfield progression and Christian Nørgaard's difficult debut. The episode closes by asking how much Everton's first defeat should change the outlook for the season.
LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

Everton remain unbeaten after a 2-2 draw at Hull City, but this felt much more like two points dropped than one rescued. James, Shan and Ryan examine a strange match in which Everton created six big chances, recovered from Joe Gelhardt's opener and took the lead through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry, only to surrender control through poor defending and a series of curious personnel decisions.
The discussion focuses on Hull's threat in transition, Jarrad Branthwaite at left back, the Tarkowski-Keane pairing, Ainsley Maitland-Niles' eventful afternoon and whether David Moyes' substitutions left Everton less likely to find a winner.
There is also praise for Barry's work beyond the missed chances, a discussion of what Everton's unbeaten start actually tells us, and a short reaction to TFG exploring new investment options. The full trio then closes with thoughts and prayers for a deeply uneven Premier League.
LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier