4 Things We Learned as Theo Walcott Gave Everton A 1-0 Win Over Newcastle United

4 Things We Learned as Theo Walcott Gave Everton A 1-0 Win Over Newcastle United
22:06, 23 Apr 2018

Theo Walcott gave Sam Allardyce a much-needed boost as the former Arsenal man's goal helped Everton to a 1-0 victory over Newcastle.

The in-form Magpies could have leapfrogged the Blues in the table with a win in Monday's late kick-off, but Allardyce's week to forget ended on a positive note thanks in large part to Walcott's crisp 51st minute strike.

Dwight Gayle and Ayoze Perez both had glorious chances to equalise for the visitors, however, Everton clung on to secure the three points needed to take them above Leicester City and into eighth.

Here are four talking points from the game at Goodison.

Schneiderlin continues Everton resurgence

Not so long ago, Morgan Schneiderlin's Everton career seemed all but over. Jettisoned from the side following an alleged training ground bust up, the Frenchman often provoked ire from supporters on the few occasions he did manage to make it onto the pitch.

Slowly but surely, though, a different Schneiderlin has started to emerge post-Easter; one which sees him regain his status as a key component in the Toffees' midfield.

In fellow midfielders Tom Davies and Idrissa Gueye, Sam Allardyce's men may have energy in abundance, but in truth neither comes close to matching the former Manchester United players quality and vision on the ball at his best.

Here, Schneiderlin controlled the tempo of the game more or less from the outset, varying his passing between short, sharp combination play and more elaborate diagonal passes to Theo Walcott in particular. A few months ago, confidence was so low that just about everything went sideways.

36 completed passes out of 39 in the first-half told its own story. Few in blue are capable of mustering anything approaching those numbers. And as the drop off in composure following the 28-year-old's enforced substitution proved, there is still a role for him to play on Merseyside if he wants it enough. Footballing ability has never really been the issue for a player who simply seemed to lose his appetite for the game.

On his day, Schneiderlin remains a figure Everton can ill afford to do without. Maybe, just maybe, his time at Goodison Park isn't drawing to a close after all.

Shelvey fails to press England claims in front of Southgate

If you believe the media gossip columns, Jonjoe Shelvey could well be on the verge of World Cup selection.

Certainly, after several noteworthy displays in the second part of the season - especially in the recent away victory at Leicester - the presence of England manager Gareth Southgate at Goodison on Monday evening merely added to speculation that the Newcastle midfielder is on the Three Lions' radar.

With technically gifted ball-players such as Shelvey few and far between in the English game and current incumbent Jack Wilshere still hampered by the same injury problems that have hampered his career, it's not too farfetched to suggest the ex-Liverpool man may just profit from being in the right place at the right time.

If this was his big audition, though, then Southgate is unlikely to have been impressed.

Dominated in the opening period by opposite numbers Schneiderlin and Gueye, it was telling that Shelvey was hooked on 83 minutes as Newcastle sought a route back into the match. He neither controlled possession nor provided the requisite level of cover needed to stamp his mark on an encounter that passed him by for long spells.

Barring any last-minute injury scare, a place in Russia probably remains a distant prospect on this evidence.

Slimani gives Toon food for thought

It's not been a good few months for Islam Slimani since his January loan move from Leicester.

Indeed, ask the Algerian international whether he feels the switch has been worthwhile so far, and he'd almost certainly reply in the negative. Injury has seen the striker miss the majority of his time in the north east to date, with the increasingly impressive Dwight Gayle having practically cemented his status as the Magpies' first-choice forward in his absence.

With Newcastle safe thanks to last weekend's win over Arsenal, though, manager Rafa Benitez handed the combative 29-year-old a vital opportunity to impress either the Magpies board, or other potential suitors.

For the most part, he did not disappoint.

Strong in the challenge and a willing runner in behind, Slimani provided an effective focal point for Benitez's team in attack. Not since Aleksandar Mitrović have Newcastle had a striker so adept at hold-up play.

If he continues in the same vein between now and the end of the season, the St James' Park hierarchy may decide he's a worthwhile supplement to the existing options at the club.

Everton supporters send message to watching Moshiri

If anything summed up the mood at Goodison Park over the last few months, it was the two banners in the Gwladys Street prior to kick-off tonight.

'Our motto is our standard' said one, in reference to the club's famous 'Nothing but the best' moniker.

More damningly for Sam Allardyce - in front of the watching Farhad Moshiri no less - was the other. 'Our survey says...get out of our club,' it read. The message was clear, at least from a certain section of the Everton fanbase: Allardyce simply does not seem an adequate fit for any side with lofty aspirations.

Much has been made of the aforementioned survey in recent weeks, with some journalists far away from Goodison Park criticising the Blues for supposed mistreatment of Allardyce.

The problem is, he's growing more unpopular by the day on the blue half of Merseyside, with supporters yearning for something more than defensive displays and 40 points. At this point, any sort of rapprochement appears particularly unlikely.

And once Goodison has turned on you, there's often no way back.

Not so long ago, a 5-2 home defeat in front of Moshiri signalled the end for Ronald Koeman. Judging by the mood in Goodison here - despite victory - it may not be long before a similar fate befalls Allardyce.

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