Everton recruited the managerial services of Ronald Koeman last summer as they looked to establish themselves as perennial top 6 finishers.
The long-term mission remains eventually breaking into the Champions League zone, but a woeful start to the new season already hints at the possibility of failing to defend their 7th place finish of last season.
Koeman remains a fine tactician, but 2 league victories, 4 goals and 3 losses thus far in 2017-18 are testament to some of the poor decisions the Dutch boss has made since arriving Goodison Park last June.
Here are 2 of such mistakes:
Failing to truly give Niasse a chance
On a goal-per-minute basis, Oumar Niasse is the best striker in the topflight at the moment.
His match-winning brace against Bournemouth saved the day for Everton and relieved mounting-pressure on Koeman.
While we will never know what might have been had the Senegalese striker been given a chance by the boss all along, his performances since January hint at a lot.
Not giving youth enough chance
Everton boast of the best youth players in England right now – it’s why they are the defending champions of the Premier League 2.
However, it remains baffling that Koeman isn’t giving them much chance as he should.
Jonjoe Kenny finally made a league appearance at the weekend, but it could have come earlier.
Ademola Lookman continues to await his own season bow, while the very-promising Matthew Pennington is currently on loan at Leeds.
Although, the trio of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Mason Holgate and Tom Davies has been given a fair share of playing time, it can’t be denied that Koeman can do more by trusting Everton’s youngsters the more.
