2019/20 Gylfi Sigurdsson

[GrandOldTeam]

So is he positioned correctly or “deployed too far forward...floundering around”?

The Iceland coach is basically saying there’s nothing wrong with how we’re playing but the chemistry isn’t right between the players. You appear to be saying the exact opposite, but using his opinion as evidence that you’re right?

They're not mutually exclusive.

He's too far away from his midfield - check.
He's too far forward from that same midfield - check.

I think he's good and no complaints. He just needs serious competition for his place, like trying Bernard or Iwobi there, so that he knows he has to keep pushing. ALso some teams require quicker passing and breaking from defence which I feel Bernard or Iwobi might provide. Do you think sometimes he's not the right player to unlock defences?

How many times has Bernard played there?

How many goals has Iwobi scored in his career?

Just baffles me how fans scream drop him, and react to his inclusion as though its outrageous when the options are what they are.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

They're not mutually exclusive.

He's too far away from his midfield - check.
He's too far forward from that same midfield - check.

To add @JimmyK , Iceland manager also has to maintain some diplomacy. He can comment on his player, but to overly critique the players club manager would be a bit iffy/counter productive.

 

[JimmyK]

To add @JimmyK , Iceland manager also has to maintain some diplomacy. He can comment on his player, but to overly critique the players club manager would be a bit iffy/counter productive.

That’s a fair point.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

That’s a fair point.

I read his comments as;

“I can’t say that Gylfi is not positioning himself properly in the system they are playing,”

he told Siminn Sport, relayed by MLB.

“There are certain things he could do better, though I do not intend to do anything specific about it right now. His failure to get the ball in Everton games is not his fault.

“He is very efficient, and he reads the game wonderfully. He is positioned correctly [As above, in the system they are playing] but the connection between him and Everton’s midfielders, Fabian Delph and Morgan Schneiderlin, is not good, and especially between him and Schneiderlin.”

In other words - count the passes between Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson...

Schneiderlin doesn't pass the ball forward, and Sigurdsson would be in effect clearing the ball if he ever passed to Schneiderlin.

I also think he's held his tongue on the system they are playing shout. He's basically said he's doing as he's told before talking about the connection with other centre midfielders.

 

[Saint Domingo]

I read his comments as;



In other words - count the passes between Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson...

Schneiderlin doesn't pass the ball forward, and Sigurdsson would be in effect clearing the ball if he ever passed to Schneiderlin.

I also think he's held his tongue on the system they are playing shout. He's basically said he's doing as he's told before talking about the connection with other centre midfielders.

Amazing how all of Schneiderlin Gueye Gomes Delph Davies Rooney Klaassen Gbamin have all struggled to connect with Siggurdson.

I’m all for trashing Schneiderlin, he’s an absolute disgrace and as you said it makes it harder for all the forward players due to his refusal to pass forward. But there’s been times Schneiderlin isn’t even on the pitch or Siggurdson has actually dropped into his position and Gylfi still doesn’t perform .

 

[evertonarntwe]

He's over scrutinised, consistently.

Because of his fee, and because he has it in him, fans look to him and it can feel wanting.

But, he provides the answer more than most. Who else do we look to when we need a big of magic from nowhere?!

When we're really turd/backs against the wall, I think he more than anyone else in this squad I can think of has looked to dig us out of it.

Some that spring to mind;

Hadjuk Split - we were certainly going out in Europe in a qualifier - real shocker, he slots from the half way line.

Away at Southampton in January, we were terrible. Losing 1-0. He does this out of nothing;



Both the above aren't remembered because we were so grim afterwards in the competition and we lost at Southampton. Even scoring at Anfield etc - when he does produce some magic, Everton have made sure it's not really one for the showreels...

To take him out of the team now, who would come in for him who will create more?!

but with a big fee comes big pressure and big responsibility, so fans have a right to dig him out if he constantly under performs which he has this season and his first season ( he was fine for large spells of last season )

you're mixing up great goals with great performances mate, no doubt he scores some worldies but it's not like he's picking us up by the scruff of the neck and making us a better team

something needs changing in the team, whether it's dropping him or moving him further back I don't know. but he has been shocking so far, can't just blame others for him under performing

 

[Tubey]

To add @JimmyK , Iceland manager also has to maintain some diplomacy. He can comment on his player, but to overly critique the players club manager would be a bit iffy/counter productive.

But he's not going to criticise his star player is he? He's inherently biased. Sigurdsson, by Icelandic standards, is exceptional. But then again so is Aron Gunnarsson.

In the Premier League, he failed at Spurs, had an entire side built around him at Swansea as a big fish in a little pond, and has failed here. He's been the one consistent aspect of failure.

What happened when Schneiderlin didn't play and Gueye was here? He was still crap.

 

[JimmyK]

I read his comments as;



In other words - count the passes between Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson...

Schneiderlin doesn't pass the ball forward, and Sigurdsson would be in effect clearing the ball if he ever passed to Schneiderlin.

I also think he's held his tongue on the system they are playing shout. He's basically said he's doing as he's told before talking about the connection with other centre midfielders.

Yeah there’s some merit in that.

It’s also got to be said that if he’s unwilling to criticise silva he’s DEFINITELY going to be unwilling to criticise his star player, and whether Erik Hamren is a better coach than silva is surely up for debate.

So in short, his comments don’t really add much to the debate either way.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

All I'll say is count the passes between Delph, Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson would be clearing the ball to pass to find both.

If you can't see the fundamental issue there then I can't help you.

 

[Saint Domingo]

He’s part of an axis of incompetence that runs right through the spine of the team. Keane, Schneiderlin, Siggurdson, Calvert Lewin are
Championship/lower premier league standard.

Until all are removed from the starting lineup we will never be consistent.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Amazing how all of Schneiderlin Gueye Gomes Delph Davies Rooney Klaassen Gbamin have all struggled to connect with Siggurdson.

I’m all for trashing Schneiderlin, he’s an absolute disgrace and as you said it makes it harder for all the forward players due to his refusal to pass forward. But there’s been times Schneiderlin isn’t even on the pitch or Siggurdson has actually dropped into his position and Gylfi still doesn’t perform .

I rest my case.

Such a turd midfield (can't draw any Gbamin conclusive yet of course).

Though my main point isnt necessarily the players, more the setup.

 

[Lanolin]

All I'll say is count the passes between Delph, Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson would be clearing the ball to pass to find both.

If you can't see the fundamental issue there then I can't help you.

But Sigurdsson not receiving passes from the midfielders isn't really being questioned is it? Everyone accepts that I think, the issue is whether that's his fault or theirs. Many people are of the opinion that he doesn't make himself available to receive the ball from them enough, that's been a recurring criticism throughout his time here, under different managers and with different midfielders behind him.

 

[Tubey]

But Sigurdsson not receiving passes from the midfielders isn't really being questioned is it? Everyone accepts that I think, the issue is whether that's his fault or theirs. Many people are of the opinion that he doesn't make himself available to receive the ball from them enough, that's been a recurring criticism throughout his time here, under different managers and with different midfielders behind him.

He hides from play. He visibly hides. He's not looking to receive the ball to make play; he's looking to pick up the second ball or exploit space left behind.

That's why the midfield breaks down and does every time he plays - it's because we're basically playing with ten men.

 

[Stan Lee Park]

We ship ridiculous goals through elementary mistakes in defence and we can't buy a goal. But Sigurdsson is our biggest problem?
This is logic worthy of our inept manager.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

But he's not going to criticise his star player is he? He's inherently biased. Sigurdsson, by Icelandic standards, is exceptional. But then again so is Aron Gunnarsson.

His point is what I've been saying for a long time on here.

In blunt terms, he's a central midfielder, without a central midfield being played as a second striker.

To get more involved as is, he needs to go AWOL drops wide because that's were Everton are instructed to play - Wolves+cross for Iwobi springs to mind.

Either than or start scoring bullet headers or hope for a half clearance lottery.

But Sigurdsson not receiving passes from the midfielders isn't really being questioned is it? Everyone accepts that I think, the issue is whether that's his fault or theirs. Many people are of the opinion that he doesn't make himself available to receive the ball from them enough, that's been a recurring criticism throughout his time here, under different managers and with different midfielders behind him.

Not sure they do?

In terms of whether its Sigurdssons fault or the holding midfielders, I think it's Silva's. Both those holding players play most of the game in their own half and very rarely get up the pitch. Maybe that's why Silva wanted Doucoure as a box-to-box, we don't have one.

As for him not making himself available, I don't see how a player who literally covered more ground than any other over the course of a season can be told he doesn't make himself available... if he's not making himself available then could how we setup be a factor?!

Every attack we try an conjure goes down the wings and fans then bemoan a player like Sigurdsson floundering about on the edge of the box.

If you've played the game at any level, his position in the Everton team is the one you'd least be enviable to play.