Tag Archives: Idrissa Gueye

Are Everton heading for an average season yet again?

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There has been lots of talk within Everton about bringing in new players and improving on last season, but as it stands Marco Silva’s team look like they are stalling with just 4 days of the transfer window left.

There has been talk about splashing the cash. It started with the possible transfer of Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace but that seems to have fallen apart. Palace are holding out for £80m for a player that has not scored more than 10 goals in any given league season. While Zaha has many good qualities about it, but the price tag seems too much but there lies the problem and why the price is too much. Palace would have to give Manchester United his former club up to 20% if any deal went through, and that is why his price has been inflated.

Everton are offering around £55m for Zaha but Palace look like they won’t budge. It did look at one point that Zaha would go to Arsenal but that fell through again over money, but then Arsenal signed Nicolas Pepe from Lille and the rest is history.

Everton’s next choice seemed to be Juventus forward Moise Kean who looks impressive. Kean was given a chance in the team when Juventus had in theory wrapped up the league and for the last 2 months he played well, scored goals and looks very promising. His price tag of under £30m also looks like a stunning bargain. But the talk has gone quiet and this is not a great time to be an Everton fan.

Also Everton were hit with new signing Fabian Delph getting injured in a friendly match only five minutes into his career with the club. The injury is not thought to be serious but he could still miss the beginning of the season- and he has a history of getting injured.

Truth is for Everton that when it is all said and done the only real signing of merit the club have made is Andre Gomes for £22m who was already at the club on loan last season. There has simply been no progress in the transfer market for the club. Yes Tottenham have got away with that for a few windows, but they had and have a quality team, Everton don’t.

Also let’s not forget how the club let Idrissa Gueye join PSG for only £26m. Gueye had proven to be a stalwart in Everton’s midfield last season, and the feeling is that they have let a very good player go for too cheap.

There is still until the end of the week for something to happen, and Everton fans will be hoping it does, because it does not look good for the club next season who might end up having a very average one if the board don’t act quick.

 

Busy week for Everton in the transfer market

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While things have been suspiciously quiet at Anfield this summer, the blue half of Merseyside has been getting down to business in recent days.

Everton look to have secured the signing of Juventus’ young striker Moise Kean while the club’s impressive midfielder Idrissa Gueye has departed for Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint Germain.

Gueye, 29, completed his medical in Paris earlier this week and leaves Everton after three years at Goodison Park. He had formed a successful partnership at the base of the midfield with Andre Gomes for The Toffees last season.

Everton signed Gomes on a permanent deal already this summer but the Portuguese player will now have to work in tandem with another midfielder in Gueye’s absence. Continue reading →

Why Idrissa Gana Gueye to PSG may be a good deal for Everton

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Idrissa Gueye PSG

Propose the idea that Everton would be willing to sell Idrissa Gana Gueye to Paris Saint Germain this month and you will be met with derision.

When ranking Everton’s best players in recent years the Senegal player is a regular at the top. He remains one of few success stories from the short reign of former Director of Football Steve Walsh.

Even last season, when the Blues were one of the worst sides in the Premier League, Gueye came out with his head held high. That is a status few of his teammates can claim. This season under Marco Silva he has flourished once again. The Portuguese manager’s progressive, forward-thinking system has afforded Gueye a key role. Continue reading →

What can Everton expect from Mina and Gomes?

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Here we are in the middle of October, and still Everton supporters are yet to see either Yerry Mina or Andre Gomes pull on the shirt.

Injury problems have dogged the two players signed from Barcelona, but the current international break appears to be a blessing.

With the pair almost back to match fitness and having taken part in a behind-closed-doors friendly, the fortnight without a league game is being used wisely in order that they’ll be available for selection for the match against Crystal Palace. Continue reading →

Idrissa Gana Gueye shining under Marco Silva

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Idrissa Gana Gueye

When Idrissa Gana Gueye arrived at Everton in the summer of 2016 his move was met with scepticism. Many questioned why the club were signing a player who had been anonymous in Villa’s relegation campaign.

Those doubts were quickly dispelled as he shone in his first year at Goodison Park. As far as Evertonians were concerned, they had pulled off one of the bargains of the season. That year, Gueye was labelled as an N’Golo Kante lite.

His second season was not as good. Like many a player, Gueye struggled for his best form. Amid the mayhem of Ronald Koeman and the misery of Sam Allardyce his performance levels fell below the standards, he had set.  Continue reading →

Premier League Midfielder Spotlight

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ManUtd-Pogba_Mkhitaryan

The 2017/18 season of the Premier League is a couple of weeks old now, and while some sides have leapt out of the gates at blazing speeds others have sauntered out at little more than a meaningless wander.

Continue reading →

Five underrated young footballers every team should aim to buy

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Olympique Lyon vs PSG

With Euro 2016 all but over, the summer transfer market will hit another gear. A couple of clubs have already registered some big moves, with the Premier League clubs’ spending topping €350 million after one week.

However, it doesn’t always require a bunch of cash to land a quality player. Therefore, let’s look at five underrated players every team should aim to buy.

Idrissa Gueye (Aston Villa)

In the summer of 2015, Leicester City were snubbed by Gueye, who opted to join Aston Villa. Consequently, the Foxes turned their attention to a player named N’Golo Kante, while Gueye was relegated with the Villains. However, the 26-year-old was a bright spot for Villa, making 35 Premier League appearances and registering similar stats to Kante.

Gueye made 3.2 tackles per game compared to Kante’s 3.7 and provided 4.1 interceptions comparted to Kante’s 4.6. On top, he proved to be a better passer, more successful dribbler and was better in aerial duels. With Villa relegated, Gueye could possibly be snapped up with a discount, after joining the club for €9m.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Bayern Munich)

Joining the senior squad of a top club like Bayern isn’t easy for an 18-year-old. Consequenlty, Hojbjerg was sent on loan the past two seasons, one at Augsburg and one at Schalke 04. The 20-year-old played a key part in Augsburg’s magical 2014/2015 season, when they finished fifth in the Bundesliga, and made 23 appearances for Schalke last season.

With his 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game, the Denmark international proved to be a steady midfield force, even at his young age. He was very highly rated by Pep Guardiola and even made 15 Bundesliga and three Champions League appearances for the German champions in his young career. Hojbjerg is hungry for a chance to shine…

Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyon)

During the 2014/2015 season, not many players in Ligue 1 impressed more than Fekir. The 22-year-old provided 13 goals and 12 assists for Lyon, being able to play multiple positions upfront. Fekir even made his senior international debut in March 2015, netting his first goal for France in just his third cap.

However, Fekir suffered a painful knee injury in September 2015 and missed a great part of the season. he didn’t play a single game in Lyon’s Champions League campaign and only made his return in April, playing a total of 117 minutes in five appearances. This could have lowered his transfer value, because a player returning from injury is always a risk.

Hakim Ziyech (FC Twente)

Financially, Dutch club FC Twente are a mess and only avoided relegation because of it after winning an appeal against the KNVB’s decision. The fact that Twente didn’t relegate due to footballing reasons, has everything to do with their star player Hakim Ziyech.

The 23-year-old Moroccon provided 17 goals and 10 assists for his club last season in the Eredivisie. That made him responsible for 56 per cent of Twente’s 48 league goals. He made the most key passes of anyone in the Dutch top flight and completed the second-most dribbles. With Twente’s financial issues, Ziyech is primed to leave for a bigger club in need of some creativity.

Amadou Diawara (Bologna)

If you’re only 18 year old and you’re coming off a Serie A season in which you made a total of 34 appearances, there must be something great about you. That’s the story of Amadou Diawara. The Guinea midfielder played the full 90 minutes on 27 ocassions and was a key player in Bologna’s solid first season back in Italy’s top flight.

Diawara made 2.2 tackles per game, that’s the same level as Paul Pogba. Meanwhile, he registered 2.7 interceptions, beating veteran players like Lucas Biglia, Milan Badelj, and Daniele De Rossi. Like Swiss talent Breel Embolo, Diawara could make a big move soon, but considering his young age, the fee could be pretty low for a future superstar.

The Premier League’s Unsung Heroes: Gueye, Pieters and More

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We all know the Premier League stars that have stood out this year – the likes of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Mesut Ozil and Dimitri Payet have excelled hugely this season.

But what about those players who go under the radar a bit: it’s about time they got the credit they deserve.

Idrissa Gueye

He may have been part of a beleaguered Aston Villa side, but statistically Idrissa Gueye has outperformed his colleagues and could easily demand a place in a top ten Premier League side.

With an average of 3.9 successful tackles and four interceptions per game, Gueye has comfortably outperformed the likes of Nemanja Matic, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Yaya Toure.

Erik Pieters

The Stoke City left back might not be the first name that springs to mind when discussing defensive excellence, but perhaps he should be. Pound for pound, Pieters has been the most exceptional full back in the Premier League this term.

With 3.6 tackles, 2.8 interceptions, 2.4 clearances and 0.6 successful blocks on average per game, it’s fair to say that Pieters has significantly contributed to Stoke’s cause and far outweighed his £3 million transfer fee.

Claudio Yacob

The archetypal defensive midfielder has a number of roles to fulfil, but the main one of course is to protect the back four.

It’s fair to say that Yacob has gone above and beyond in this are for West Brom so far this season. With 3.5 interceptions, 3.2 tackles and 2.1 clearances per game on average, the Argentine is adding a huge amount of value to the Baggies’ cause.

Laurent Koscielny

While you might not consider Laurent Koscielny underrated as such, it is the creative talents at Arsenal that tend to take the plaudits.

But in truth, this centre half should get a good pat on the back for his efforts too: with 1.6 tackles, 3.8 interceptions, 5.9 clearances and 0.9 blocks per game on average, he is providing the platform on which the likes of Cazorla, Ozil and Sanchez can build.

Koscielny is into his sixth season as an Arsenal player now, and having signed for £8 million he represents fantastic value for money.

Gerard Deulofeu

Another player who enjoyed a flying start to the campaign was Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu, who was involved in much of the good stuff that the Toffees produced.

Having contributed eight assists, 1.4 key passes and two successful dribbles per game this term, it’s no wonder that Barcelona are keeping close tabs on the 23-year-old.

Kelechi Iheanacho

Nobody has scored more Premier League goals in the six yard box this season than this youngster; Manchester City might have a real ‘fox in the box’ on their hands.

Iheanacho plays second fiddle to Sergio Aguero and Wilfried Bony of course, but the 20-year-old is ranked ninth this term for ‘goals per 90 minutes’. He is surely one to watch in the coming months.