David Moyes interview: Everton manager talks about Premier League set-piece trends and timeless tactics | Soccer News

There has been a change of style in the Premier League and David Moyes is relishing it.

“We’ve gone through a little bit of a period where a lot of the football that we’ve watched recently is where you can say, ‘Oh, I’m not going to do this, I’m not going to watch it,’ but I think it’s pretty exciting at the moment,” he told Sky Sports.

After an era when teams played short from the back and tried to gradually build up the pitch, this year there has been an increase in long passes and an increased threat from set pieces.

The Premier League has changed. Or is there?

“I don’t think it’s gone away, I think it’s always been there,” Moyes says of the importance of exploiting dead-ball situations.

He is a manager who has exploited set-piece opportunities and the physical elements of the game throughout his career. But he says set-pieces are now in the spotlight because of how title favorites Arsenal overcome the moment.

“I’ve always looked out for years to be good at set-pieces, whether it’s defending the opposition or scoring from them. I think all managers do the same. There’s a big trend going on right now that Arsenal are very good.

“Declan Rice played great, Bukayo Saka played great and they both got a couple of great headers.

“We need people who can deliver great results and people who can lead well.

“If you don’t defend corners or free kicks well enough or score some goals from them, it’s very difficult for yourself, and I don’t really see where that changed so much.

“I think the long throws were probably the part that people thought was amazing.”

In fact, this season there were an average of 3.85 long throws per game in the penalty box, compared to 1.52 last season.

Moyes’ Everton will travel to Sunderland on Monday Night Football to face the side who scored the equalizer from a long throw from Nordi Mukiele against Chelsea last weekend.

Not since the days of Tony Pulis and Rory Delap at Stoke City have long throws been so feared. So what’s behind their comeback?

“If we can get into the penalty box more, I think we’ll probably score more goals,” Moyes said. “But we always knew that.

“All clubs will have data to suggest that they might have a better chance of scoring if they throw the ball in rather than playing short and finding a way to cross.”

However, throwing or kicking the ball into a mixer does not guarantee a goal. Moyes says the problem lies in playing to the team’s strengths and changing the way they attack.

“I don’t think everyone is moving to direct play. I think people are just changing over time,” he says.

“So if you’re under a lot of pressure, it’s common sense not to try to beat everyone who’s putting pressure on you.

“At the same time, if you don’t have big numbers you probably won’t be able to play as well as them, but there are probably one or two clubs that have slightly bigger numbers than they did a few years ago.

“Football is always evolving. I don’t think it’s going to be one way or the other. Teams will continue to develop from the back, and I think so. Maybe some teams will play a little longer because they might have a good target man or goalkeeper who can kick far enough to get behind them faster.”

“But in general, if you’re a real football supporter, you don’t want it to be one-sided. We want it mixed up. We want to see variation. It would be boring if everyone was going to play the same way.”

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“A lot of teams are trying to change their style and change what they do and I think that’s totally fine.

“The best teams have good attacking players and creativity and people who can go one-on-one when needed. I don’t think we’re just throwing in all the big players and pumping up the pitch. I don’t think we’re close to that at all. In fact, I think we’re a long way from there.”

“But there are moments like long throws, and the coaches are working on dead ball moments, and they’re doing that very well.”

So, can we expect a rush to acquire long-throw specialists in the January transfer window?

“I think people who don’t think all these traits are part of who they are are really naive,” Moyes says. “If you can get a guy who can throw it far, if you can get a guy who can kick a great corner kick, that’s always been there and that hasn’t changed.”

Another important trend in the Premier League this season…

Although it has not received much attention, there is another important trend in the Premier League that Moyes has discovered that affects the game. Experienced leader on the pitch.

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris described Granit Xhaka on the pitch as being like a coach after his team’s win over Chelsea, and Moyes believes Everton have a similar player in their squad.

“Xhaka in particular has given them that level of professionalism and understanding of the game and taught them the level it takes to be at the top,” Moyes said. “He’s been great at Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, so if he can do that for Sunderland and help them it would be big.”

“One of those guys here is Jordan Pickford, James Tarkowski, we have a few but Seamus Coleman is a great leader here at the club.

“In my opinion, it’s as popular as set-pieces now. Managers are looking for leaders now, they’re looking for people who can take responsibility.

“Joao Parinha is doing a little bit for Tottenham in a way, they also have Cristian Romero, Brentford have Xhaka, Jordan Henderson.

“There are certain types of players who know the level and standards that constitute excellence. The level that they need to reach, the standards that players need to train to, the standards that are expected of them on match day, whether it’s play or discipline.”

In a world of soccer that is constantly evolving and pursuing the latest trends, the fundamental elements of the game seem to be as important as ever.