Everton vs. Lille: Lessons Learned from Europa League Game
Everton retained top spot in Europa League Group H thanks to Thursday's comfortable 3-0 win over Lille.
Leon Osman, Phil Jagielka and Steven Naismith each found the back of the net for the Toffees at Goodison Park, and on the defensive side of the ball the hosts allowed their Ligue 1 opponents just two shots on target.
Both managers will have learned a thing or two from this encounter, good and bad, and the following slideshow will highlight just some of the takeaways.
James McCarthy Was a Bargain at £13 Million
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With each game he plays, Everton midfielder James McCarthy shows himself to be a bargain pickup for the Toffees, who paid Wigan £13 million for his signature in September 2013.
On Thursday, the 23-year-old ran the Everton midfield, completing 86 percent of his passes and contributing an impressive eight tackles, per WhoScored.
As the Liverpool Echo's Greg O'Keeffe pointed out on his Twitter account, McCarthy was also instrumental in the buildup to the hosts' second goal of the night.
Everton Are More Dangerous When Aiden McGeady Is on Song
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Going into Thursday's Europa League match against Lille, Everton winger Aiden McGeady had neither scored a goal nor assisted on one since August.
But in the 27th minute, the Republic of Ireland international played an inch-perfect ball to Leon Osman that the midfielder proceeded to strike into the back of the net.
Then, just 15 minutes later, his corner met the head of Phil Jagielka, who scored Everton's second goal of the night.
The Toffees already get superb service from the left-hand side of the pitch through Leighton Baines, and on Thursday they showed just how lethal they can be when the crosses are coming in from the right as well.
Divock Origi Is Very Much an Unfinished Product
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Divock Origi got his first taste of Merseyside, Thursday, when the on-loan Liverpool forward started for Lille against Everton.
But for a few runs down either flank, which were generally well-tracked, the 19-year-old made only a modest impression and failed to give opposition goalkeeper Tim Howard anything serious to think about.
As Squawka revealed via Twitter, the Belgium international struggled to impose himself at Goodison Park, and at the final whistle he had touched the ball just 29 times, per WhoScored.
Best Mark Jagielka, or He'll Hurt You
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Everton's second goal was an example of how not to defend a corner-kick.
Although Aiden McGeady's delivery was a good one, Toffees defender Phil Jagielka should have never been so comfortably open as he headed the ball into the back of the net.
Jagielka was Marko Basa's man to track, but the 31-year-old centre-back simply gave up too easily, or lost concentration as the ball came in.
Jagielka has now scored in four of his last 10 matches for club and country.
Leon Osman Still Has Something to Offer
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Leon Osman is no longer an everyday player at Everton, but that didn't stop the club handing him a new, one-year contract on Thursday, as per Liam Prenderville at the Mirror.
A few hours later, the 33-year-old was celebrating his opener against Lille—a well-taken shot from a tight angle after he had done well to control Aiden McGeady's cross.
If Everton are serious about competing on multiple fronts they need squad depth, and Osman provides a quality option to manager Roberto Martinez when it comes time to rotate the team.
