OPINION
Marco Silva is surely on the brink at Everton. Perhaps not now, but maybe in a few months, if he doesn’t improve results he will be looking for another job.
So he is very much trying to save his own skin for the remainder of this season and every game is important in doing that, including Wednesday night’s clash with champions Manchester City.
The former Watford boss could go some way towards achieving a positive result against Pep Guardiola’s side by starting midfielder James McCarthy.
The Republic of Ireland international is yet to feature for the Toffees this season, but he has been fit for some time. Silva’s current approach isn’t working, so why not mix things up in a game where you’re not expected to come away with anything anyway?
A formation tweak could help Everton turn things around this campaign. Silva should consider switching to a 4-4-3, with a combination of Andre Gomes, Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies and McCarthy in central midfield, depending on Gueye’s fitness and mindset.
The front three, then, could be filled by Ademola Lookman, Cenk Tosun and Richarlison. The Turkey international has impressed more of late, while Lookman and Richarlison are the most likely Toffees attackers to trouble City.
The main thing, however, is that McCarthy start the game. He is as energetic a midfielder as Silva has at his disposal, and he is more committed to the Everton cause than anyone this side of Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines.
McCarthy and Davies swarming around City’s midfielders while Gomes uses the ball intelligently when the Toffees get it could be Everton’s recipe for success in this game.
The Irishman has been back to full fitness for some time now, and at some point he needs to come back into the team. Why not throw him in at the deep end against the champions and see if he can still swim?
Silva needs to do something different, and he might just have the answer to his team’s poor form right in front of him. It’s time for McCarthy to get another chance and this is the perfect game for it to happen.