Only one club has collected more points than Everton since Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment. What has changed?

There is no substitute for class in the dug-out

So this was the cynical view of Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton appointment; after a decorated career managing elite clubs with mega salaries and hefty compensation packages, Ancelotti was readying himself for a prolonged holiday in the most exclusive villas when Farhad Moshiri made an offer that could not be refused.

Forget ambition or unfinished business in the Premier League, Ancelotti saw Moshiri’s millions and thought, ‘What is the worst that can happen?’

Everton, Moshiri was told, should have pursued a younger, hungrier and less expensive coach - Ancelotti a pricey risk, unsuited to a side that needed a tracksuit manager, his appointment more about image than substance.

In six weeks, Ancelotti has dismantled the preconceptions and shown why such coaches cost so much. He is brimming with enthusiasm, as motivated as any of his predecessors, and most important of all he has clarity of purpose.

The truest sign of excellence in a coach is getting more out of players, and making the work on the training ground visible on matchday. Ancelotti has achieved both so far.

There is nothing like a bit of old-fashioned 4-4-2

Ancelotti admits the recent improvement began with Duncan Ferguson’s caretaker stint and the welcome simplification of tactics. Marco Silva did not like playing two strikers. Before him, Sam Allardyce did but they spent most of the time in their own half. Ronald Koeman lost faith in the players to make any system work, while Roberto Martinez would work his way through every formation in the UEFA manual rather than play 4-4-2.

How refreshing, then, to hear one of the wisest football men of the last 20 years speak of his preference for two upfront and telling the players it is their responsibility to adapt to his vision and make it work, not the other way around. It is far from perfect, but the reason Everton are collecting more points is they are moving the ball forward quickly and creating more chances. It enables them to steal a point, or a win, in fixtures where players would previously fear the game was up once they fell behind, or suffered even the mildest setbacks.