Long Read: McNeil's New Mindset

In an interview that first appeared in the Official Matchday Programme for the visit of Crystal Palace, Dwight McNeil sat down to explain why he has become a different person – for the better – over the past year, the reasons for confidence remaining high in the Everton’s changing room, and why he is convinced the best is yet to come for him in royal blue...

One of Dwight McNeil’s admirable qualities is his ability to find light in the dark times – both in football terms, and amidst the stark reality he has faced outside the game over the past year.

It isn’t just hopeless optimism, either.

On the pitch, recognising the “unacceptable” manner of losing back-to-back games from winning positions, Everton’s No.7 understands why some encouraging aspects of the Blues’ early-season performances have been overshadowed. 

In general life, he admits the medical issues his partner, Megan, has faced – and, thankfully, now nearly fully recovered from – has changed him as a person.

“Everything happens for a reason,” insists the down-to-earth 24-year-old. “It’s something Meg has always said, and I’m a big believer in that now, too.

“I am in a good place, we both are. Meg is nearly back to full recovery now, which is good, it’s a relief after a tough time and I’m really proud of her in how she’s got through what she’s been through. 

 “What happened changed me as a person. Not in a bad way, I actually think for the better, because I had more responsibility – to care for someone, someone who I love. As bad as it was, I found ways to take positives from it, as did she.”

On the start to the new campaign, he continues: “Look, it’s been a difficult start for us and we’ve not got the results we wanted, or probably should have got, given the positions we’ve been in, but it’s happened. It’s football, where anything can happen.

“The only thing we can do now is be better from those experiences. 

“The point at Leicester, again, was a difficult one to take because I thought we played really well up until they got their goal back and then, being at home, they had the momentum in the last 10 minutes. 

“But everyone is still positive, and relaxed about the situation, because it’s a long season. There is a real resilience in our group, as we’ve shown over the past two or three years. 

“Of course, there’s an urgency to get better, to hold on to those leads and score more goals when we get the chances, but we can achieve it. Getting points on the board is the most important thing and everyone is very aware of that.”

McNeil’s adaptation from winger to a central role over the past three league games has been impressive. In Premier League terms, he sits top of the rankings for chances created (17) and big chances created (five), while also leading the way for number of through-balls, second for crosses and joint-fifth for assists.

Even the vast majority of McNeil’s time through academy football was spent on the left flank. It wasn’t until a brief experiment at Under-18s level that he first experienced playing in the middle of the park, then a further, more prolonged exposure to different central roles – the more advanced ‘number 10’ and box-to-box ‘number 8’ – with Burnley’s Under-21s.

His eye as a young football fan, and even today as a player, though, has always been drawn to players who can play across the frontline. Lionel Messi, in McNeil’s opinion, “the best”, while nowadays, fellow Premier League players in Kevin de Bruyne and Martin Ødegaard are closely watched for their positional sense and “unbelievable technical ability”.

“Every time I’ve played centrally I’ve enjoyed it, because I feel like I’m always involved in the game,” he explains. “That’s the biggest difference from playing on the left. In possession, you want to get on the ball or create space for your teammates, then, out of possession, you’re still always involved in terms of getting back into shape and there’s a lot that happens in those moments in the Premier League that just happen so fast. 

“I’ve really enjoyed [playing centrally for Everton]. I know there is still a lot of work to be done – in and out of possession – for me to improve in that position, but I’m doing that in every game. For me, I’ve always found the best way I learn and improve is by actually playing and experiencing it for real.

“The stats… I don’t really focus on them. For me, I think stats, at times, can overshadow what players actually do on the pitch. I find stats difficult because rule number one for me is to always just play well, and I know myself if I’ve done that or not. If I’m playing well and enjoying my football, all of that stuff comes with it. 

“My focus will always be on playing well, helping the team in any way I can and enjoying it, and, of course, getting on a winning run. That’s the biggest thing for me – helping the team win games.”

That McNeil has hit the ground running in his new position not only speaks volumes of his skill level and adaptability, but also the meticulous preparation he and his father, Matty, put in during the off-season, with the pair using Everton’s Finch Farm facilities to work on technical aspects of his game, including the intricacies of playing in a range of positions, one of those being the one he is currently occupying in Sean Dyche’s side, long before the squad was due back for the beginning of pre-season.

Matty, who made more than 400 career appearances as a player himself before retiring in 2012, representing the likes of Macclesfield Town and Stockport County in the Football League, has been a lifelong mentor to his son, while his mother, Tracy, has also been an important influence.

“My mum and my dad, and, more recently, Meg, they’re the three who have been my support team,” he says. “They’re my biggest followers and my biggest supporters. They’ve played a massive part in my journey, without a doubt.

“Growing up, my mum and dad were amazing for me. My mum in terms of looking after me and checking in on how I’m feeling and things like that, then my dad in terms of his knowledge of the game and passing on everything he’d experienced in football. 

“It was never a case of anyone forcing me to play football. Ever since I can remember, all I’ve wanted to do is to play football, and my parents were always fully supportive in the sense of letting me do what made me happy and not being bothered about what level I was going to play at. Luckily for me, growing up with that background and the support they gave me, that helped me get to where I am today. 

“After every game, my dad will tell me what I’ve done well, what I’ve not done well – and I’m always keen to hear it because I’m always wanting to improve. Hearing that from him – and Meg, who gives it me plenty! It’s good for me. I want to be pushed and I want to be the best player I can possibly be. 

“My dad still coaches me to this day. Over the summer, me and my dad did our own sessions and as well as work based around playing on the wing, we also looked at if I was to move into a central position, so it was good to be ready. We practised it a lot. We try to do everything we can to cover all bases because you never know where you might be needed on the pitch. 

“My dad loved playing and he still loves football. I don’t know whether he still believes to this day that he’s better than me but I always used to say to him when I was younger that one day I would be better than him. He would never believe me! I’d probably back myself now!”

There has also been support from manager Dyche, Assistant Manager Ian Woan, First-Team Coach Steve Stone, as well as the Club’s analysis team in helping to make the transition as seamless as possible.

“We do team analysis sessions and then separate individual ones as well,” describes McNeil. “I’ve done more of those individual ones recently with it being a fairly new position to me at this level, and spoken to the staff a lot in terms of what they expect from me.

“I’ve also spoken a lot to Dom [Calvert-Lewin] and the strikers in terms of what they want because they have one of the hardest jobs on the pitch and, as a number 10, you’re the one who is generally closest to him, so it’s about building that relationship and understanding between you, ready for when it really counts out on the pitch.”

Now 86 games into his Everton career after moving from Burnley in the summer of 2022, McNeil’s time with the Blues has been far from plain sailing, with back-to-back relegation battles followed by an equally dramatic term for different reasons last time around, as the Club were docked an unprecedented 10 points for off-field matters.

Despite those turbulent times, McNeil has only deep affection for the Club and the way the supporters have stuck by the team to help navigate those troubles, and remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent Everton.

“I love playing for Everton,” he says. “Make no mistake, this is a massive club – and that’s why I wanted to join in the first place. Playing against them, I got a sense for that and it was always horrible as an opposition player but you could see what it was about! 

“Who wouldn’t want to play for a massive club like this? There’s a lot of pressure playing here but I enjoy that. I just want to improve myself, get even better and help the team more and more.

“As we know, in football anything can happen and, unfortunately, in the past few years, things have happened to us – most recently out of our control as players – but I would never change my decision if I could turn back time, even knowing how things have unfolded. 

“I’m really enjoying my time here and I’m definitely confident the best is yet to come.”

Adding weight to that following news this week of Blue Heaven Holdings and The Friedkin Group confirming they have reached agreement over the terms of the sale of Blue Heaven Holdings’ majority stake in Everton, McNeil added: “The takeover talk has been there for a while but the big one for me is the new stadium next season, which is going to be amazing.

“I know the fans will be sad to leave Goodison because of all of the history it’s got, but it’s a new chapter for the Club and for everyone involved in it. It’s going to be an amazing stadium and hopefully we can write more history and create new amazing memories there.”