The move gathered impetus with a switch of play. André Gomes collected the ball on the half-way line, surveyed his options and, spotting Seamus Coleman in space, played a pass out to Everton’s right flank.
And then, rather than admire his work, he followed the attack as it progressed. Coleman into Cenk Tosun, a neat lay off from the striker and Gomes was back involved.
A touch to completely bypass Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rúben Neves, two more to create the opportunity to shoot and, then, a battered finish from just inside the penalty area high into the net.
It was a snapshot of everything the modern-day midfielder should do.
The only disappointment was that Everton did not see more of that from Gomes last season. That goal in a 3-1 home defeat by Nuno Espírito Santo’s side went alongside one assist (in a 2-2 draw at home with Watford) and one “big chance created” in 27 appearances in the Premier League.
For context, Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré scored five goals, registered six assists and created eight “big chances” in 35 matches, Neves scored four for Wolves, produced three assists and made four “big chances” in 35 games and Lucas Torreira’s figures at Arsenal were two, two and three respectively in 34 appearances.
Ross Barkley, the former Everton midfielder, scored three, assisted five and created four big chances in 27 games at Chelsea and Dan Gosling, another ex-Goodison Park player, scored twice, created one assist and made two big chances in 25 games at Bournemouth last season.
Equally, Nemanja Matic managed one goal, no assists and created no big chances in 28 appearances for Manchester United.
Gomes’s superb goal against Wolves was his only strike of the campaignGARETH COPLEY/GETTY IMAGES
Everton will, of course, expect Gomes’s figures to improve in the 2019-2020 campaign as they put the finishing touches towards turning his loan move from Barcelona into a permanent agreement.
A deal of around £22 million to £25 million (plus a further £2 million should manager Marco Silva guide the club into the Champions League) appears good business in this modern, money-flushed era, although Everton had the field to themselves.
Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Gomes faded (Everton will say because the player favoured remaining on Merseyside and Spurs will argue they have other targets) and West Ham United’s bids seemed doomed to fail from the outset.
However, true value will only come to fruition if the Portuguese international steps up and finds another gear, influences matches on a regular basis and flourishes under the responsibility he will be handed.
Silva, who marshalled Everton astutely in the closing weeks of the season and motivated players whose season had effectively flatlined weeks earlier, has a big part to play here.
He must look to smooth away the rough edges that persist in the make-up of the 25-year-old and ensure his time on the ball, and work off it, is channelled more effectively and efficiently.
Only six players who had played at least 500 minutes in the Premier League last season covered more ground than Gomes who, on average, ran 12.26 kilometres per 90 minutes.
As he showed against Wolves back in February, he is capable of breaking from deep and, when the time is right, must challenge himself to take up the positions which drive the team forward and not merely move from side-to-side.
Throughout his career with Benfica, Valencia and Barcelona, he has never been a prolific goalscorer with his best return five in 41 appearances in 2015-16 for Valencia. It is an area ripe for improvement.
Gomes, alone, will not transform Everton from the side that finished eighth into something more substantial. In many respects, they have spent to standstill and must target defensive recruits, with a permanent deal for Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma difficult, and also a forward in order to address that persistent flaw.
Yet Gomes will find a second season at Goodison Park brings with it rather more pressure. A player who is easy on the eye must move on from dealing in the singular.
----
The full article for those who wanted it.