2018/19 Gylfi Sigurdsson

[BlueToff]

I think it is just semantics because as I said above, I really don't think anybody expects him to be doing that. Again, I think when people say 'run the game' they mean that he should be taking control of situations and saying 'give me the ball i'll make something happen'.

Whether that's how he wants to play is completely irrelevant here, it's about stepping up and doing what the team needs from an attacking player. How often last season did we put together moves like those which put Walcott in for his goal, disallowed goal, assist, and sitter on Saturday? Virtually never. That's how he'd like to play every week, getting on the shoulder of his man and getting in behind due to quick interplay. And yet he still found a way to be very effective for us during that period because he adapted, always offering us an outlet and arriving in the box to get on the end of crosses. That's absolutely not how he would choose to play, but he's a quality player and he did what was necessary in order to contribute. All i'm saying is that i'm not sure Sigurdsson did, and some people seem to think that's alright. I don't.

Going back to where I started, my point was really that he needs to leave last season behind him and step up to the plate this year. He's started well and hopefully the improved football and competition for places will bring the best out of him. If he can have a good season then there's no doubt he can be a real asset for us.

I think we definitely saw that in the second half on Saturday.

The first half was more about high energy and pressing. I though Gylfi was sloppy on the ball at times and could have done better.

Second have he did start doing that. I've just watched the vid back. He's involved in all of our chances, all of our best play, and in the last 10 he played smart. He didn't do it enough last year but if you remember back there were plenty of examples of Gylfi setting up great chances (most set plays) that we missed - like, real, genuine sitters as well.

On your last point, I think this style suits him - at home at least.

We'll see how it goes away, but at home when we're looking to press from the front, having someone like Gylfi - a tall, physical player who is willing to do the hard work - is brilliant for a pressing game. Add the fact that he's good on the ball and then has that set-piece delivery and it's a really potent combo.

He has to keep it up though, because the competition is definitely there, and in some games it may be better to play Bernard in that role (maybe games we're looking to counter at pace?).

Good to have options!

 

[BlueToff]

He's supposed to be a playmaker. As in he's supposed to make play.

He's not meant to be a luxury player where if we're playing well, he plays well and if we're playing bad, he plays bad.

That's the massive issue with him. Hopefully the players around him now allow him to have a decent season, but he shouldn't be relying on that - he should be making others better.

Watch the video a few pages back though, and he did just that.

The thing is, people seem to think that he will be the one doing that all over the pitch. That's my point when I say that that isn't his game. He's at his best doing the work in the final third, tying the play together there, whereas I think what some people want him to be doing as well as that is running the game from deep - he just hasn't got the skill set for that.

 

[brieverton]

Silva is already getting more from him playing him in the right position, and with a focus on set-piece delivery and crosses from open play.

I agree that he is not / never worth what we paid but he is a very decent goalscorer under the right circumstances.

He will never be the one that makes us tick but his attitude is good and I expect him to be in double figures for goals this season, and its goals that change games.

I would like him to step up mentally and take more responsibility in away games in particular, he should be taking more advanced positions and drawing out / splitting the opponents CBs. But he is just one of a handful of them that have to step up in this regard, beginning on Saturday.

 

[BlueToff]

He`s a borderline higher than average Premier League player, that Koeman had a hard on for and we overpaid by at least 20 mil for. ( not his fault )

The fact that he flopped at Spurs, was a massive warning, that he would struggle in a team, where he was much more accountable for his overall contribution.

You`re one hundred per cent right, when you highlight the fact that from the moment Walcott and Richarlison came in, they stood out, where as Siggy never has ( he had a good game last week, but how many others spring to mind ! ).

We`ve had all the excuses - no pre season, lack of fitness, playing out of position, but surely the law of averages says that even if that were true, he`d eventually have a good game !!!!

No one wants him to fail, just some consistency would be a start and then lets take it from there.

This is the thing though, he was consistently good from November to March. It gets overlooked, but he was. Before he got injured we actually played some half-decent stuff from open play, because Rooney was sitting deep and Gyfli was always an option to link the play, get Rooney up the pitch and then Rooney or Gylfi could look to pick out Walcott.

It's also worth noting that this is the first time we're seeing Gylfi and Tosun work together on a consistent basis as well.

 

[BlueToff]

Silva is already getting more from him playing him in the right position, and with a focus on set-piece delivery and crosses from open play.

I agree that he is not / never worth what we paid but he is a very decent goalscorer under the right circumstances.

He will never be the one that makes us tick but his attitude is good and I expect him to be in double figures for goals this season, and its goals that change games.

I would like to to step up and take more responsibility in away games in particular, he should be taking more advanced positions and drawing out / splitting the opponents CBs. But he is just one of a handful of them that have to step up in this regard, beginning on Saturday.

He can be the one that makes us tick in and around the area, though - he showed that on Saturday in the second half.

He just isn't a player who can do that from deep or, at least, it'd be a waste of what he is actually good at.

Currently we have three players who I think are suited to a deep-lying playmaker role

- Schneiderlin (if the effort is there)
- Gomes (I'm really hopeful that he can be the guy)
- Besic (getting punted)

 

[Tubey]

Watch the video a few pages back though, and he did just that.

The thing is, people seem to think that he will be the one doing that all over the pitch. That's my point when I say that that isn't his game. He's at his best doing the work in the final third, tying the play together there, whereas I think what some people want him to be doing as well as that is running the game from deep - he just hasn't got the skill set for that.

Last season? He didn't.

But I've just saw your post saying you think he was good from November to March, so I can't really argue with you if that's your honest opinion, as mine is the direct opposite of that so we aren't going to see eye to eye on it.

 

[Kinky Koeman]

He's supposed to be a playmaker. As in he's supposed to make play.

He's not meant to be a luxury player where if we're playing well, he plays well and if we're playing bad, he plays bad.

That's the massive issue with him. Hopefully the players around him now allow him to have a decent season, but he shouldn't be relying on that - he should be making others better.

I agree, the signs of a player who was keen to generate chances were on show against Southampton (not the biggest test) and I hope he can continue to create more opportunities going forward. He’s got an excellent attitude and digs in, but just needs to cause more issues for opposition than he has so far.

Would hope the deliveries he was putting in continue for when Mina comes in as he will add an additionally target and make his set pieces far more dangerous.

 

[BlueToff]

Last season? He didn't.

But I've just saw your post saying you think he was good from November to March, so I can't really argue with you if that's your honest opinion, as mine is the direct opposite of that so we aren't going to see eye to eye on it.

Sorry Tubes, meant to say 'on Saturday'.

He didn't do it last season enough. He did do it in flashes, when we actually looked to get the ball down and play.

And fair enough. Game of opinions. I can think of a fair few games where he was far improved and consistently one of our better performers in that period. Again, I'll caveat that by saying the bar wasn't high last season.

But last season has been and gone.

 

[Thomasc]

Last season? He didn't.

But I've just saw your post saying you think he was good from November to March, so I can't really argue with you if that's your honest opinion, as mine is the direct opposite of that so we aren't going to see eye to eye on it.

That’s all anybod this is about at the end of the day, opinions.

However, I have a feeling that some on here will continue the negative line regardless of how he performs as they cannot get over the two following points -

1. We overpaid for him, due to Swansea not wanting him to leave and Koeman really wanting him.
2. He was almost seen as a direct replacement for Barkley, who also massively divided opinion on here and the ones who believe Barkley is superior will struggle to take a like to Gylfi.

Bottom line is though, Silva is playing him, he is highly regarded and seems like a model pro. If he can produce the foods this season the 45m will soon be forgotten.

 

[COYBL25]

This is the thing though, he was consistently good from November to March. It gets overlooked, but he was. Before he got injured we actually played some half-decent stuff from open play, because Rooney was sitting deep and Gyfli was always an option to link the play, get Rooney up the pitch and then Rooney or Gylfi could look to pick out Walcott.

It's also worth noting that this is the first time we're seeing Gylfi and Tosun work together on a consistent basis as well.

He wasn`t though mate was he ?

He was " better" than he had previously had been.

Granted he was playing " Sam Allardyce footy ", but when Walcott came in, straight away he stood out, even though he`d never played in the team before and he too was playing " Sam Allardyce footy ".

We all see things differently mate, but what I one thing I think we can agree on, is that he needs to be consistent, as this is what he`s been badly lacking.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

both goals on Saturday were indicative of the play it on the floor style (I know the second was a header but Walcott got to the byline from smart passing). That game has to be to Gylfi's strengths. He plays in a different play-maker role, its less creative than doing the simple build up really well - and I like it!

 

[Toffe3m4n]

This is the thing though, he was consistently good from November to March. It gets overlooked, but he was. Before he got injured we actually played some half-decent stuff from open play, because Rooney was sitting deep and Gyfli was always an option to link the play, get Rooney up the pitch and then Rooney or Gylfi could look to pick out Walcott.

It's also worth noting that this is the first time we're seeing Gylfi and Tosun work together on a consistent basis as well.

Spot on. Mad how people don't remember this, it wasn't even that long ago..

 

[BlueToff]

He wasn`t though mate was he ?

He was " better" than he had previously had been.

Granted he was playing " Sam Allardyce footy ", but when Walcott came in, straight away he stood out, even though he`d never played in the team before and he too was playing " Sam Allardyce footy ".

We all see things differently mate, but what I one thing I think we can agree on, is that he needs to be consistent, as this is what he`s been badly lacking.

He was.

He performed very well in the West Ham (h) game, and took that on into the Huddersfield game, the derby and after that Newcastle away and Swansea at home. He did well in the game at home against Chelsea which was pretty much just a backs-to-the-wall job for 90 minutes.

The entire team lost some momentum around Xmas and I can't remember if he played v WBA and B'mouth (in both of them). For sake of argument lets say he did and he didn't stand out. He didn't start v United on New Years Day.

Next up, IIRC, was the away derby. Played well, scored a great goal.

Then through January I can't really remember who we played tbf. I think the next game was Spurs (atrocious, the whole team) and then he played well in the game against Leicester on deadline day.

Played decent through Feb, although by this time any 'Fat Sam bounce' had well and truly worn off - the game at home to Crystal Palace I remember him being by far our best player, and in that game at Turf Moor when he played central he was very good. Probably his best performance in an Everton shirt before Saturday. He missed a good chance at the end of that game if I recall, before Williams got sent off.

Then he got injured in the next game.

 

[BlueToff]

Spot on. Mad how people don't remember this, it wasn't even that long ago..

It's the same people who slated him from the start for a fee that was out of his control.

I've got no problem with criticism when it's fair. There's definitely plenty of valid points that he had to improve and even in that spell there were games where he wasn't up to scratch, but overall in that period he was probably our most consistent performer after Pickford and DCL.

 

[BigBlueConk]

This season is two games in.

Last season was dire and only Pickford was consistent.

It is much more than a case of looking like a new player, it really is a new team with new direction and if Gylfi wants to be part of that, he needs to play well.