There were a number of subplots ahead of the game against Aston Villa, none more so than Jack Grealish facing his old club, but also the Tim Iroegbunam and Lucas Digne connection. However, it turned out to be Iliman Ndiaye who was the standout story of the goalless draw with an excellent performance, especially after his 90 minutes of football for Senegal four days earlier in Kinshasa.
Ndiaye has become a real favourite with the fans; his energetic and explosive play is getting the crowd off their seats on a regular basis, and his ability to beat his opponents and get his team into dangerous positions is a real pleasure to see. There’s a shortage of these types of players even in Europe’s top league, so it’s great that Everton has such a talent
However, I can’t help being frustrated at the fact that we aren’t seeing the fruits of his labour in the final third of the pitch.
There are a number of reasons for this, I feel. Firstly, I’d like to see him finish more of his own moves more often; his efforts deserve a better reward. However, my biggest concern is whether Everton has the strikers capable of delivering the end product that Ndiaye, and for that matter, the other playmakers like Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall create.
I said during the transfer window that Everton needed another striker, and I still feel that way. Beto had a wonderful end to last season, but I’m yet to be convinced that he can be that 20 goal a season striker. Nothing would please me more than to be proved wrong, but I just feel that if we are to benefit from the array of creative talent we have at our disposal, then the strikers need to start converting a lot more.
It’s early days, I accept that, and I cannot deny the work rate, endeavour and hard graft that Beto and Thierno Barry, in particular, put in, but for me, what is a real worry is the amount of opportunities that are not converted into goals currently.
Young Thierno Barry looks to me like he’ll need time to adapt to the Premier League. I’m loath to say this as a criticism, it’s not, it’s a realisation that it’s going to be a longer process than we’d ideally like to see the best of him.
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That means there’s a need to see more goals from other areas of the team, and in fairness, five of Everton’s seven goals this season so far have come from that source. But it can’t be relied on, and if the team is to make the most of the good work from the creators, then the strikers will need to do more in the coming weeks to continue the positive start to the campaign.
It’s only right to say there were many positives about the performance against Aston Villa, whose keeper, Emiliano Martinez, kept in the game.
There is a hunger to do well, an intensity about Everton’s play which has been missing over the last few seasons
Jordan Pickford set for a new contract at Everton
I was delighted to hear this week that the club are looking to tie down Jordan Pickford to a new contract which would see him pretty much end his career at the club. Pickford’s importance to the squad and the club cannot be underestimated, questioned or disputed. There is no doubt his contribution over the last few years in particular has ensured Everton has remained a Premier League club as they moved into the fantastic Hill Dickinson stadium.
I find the subtle negative narrative which rears its head all too often nauseating and baffling. Pickford has been faultless for club and country for a very long time now and deserves more respect than the sniping which is regularly heard, especially during international breaks.
I remember listening to the radio when Everton were away at Leicester City in May 2023, a game they couldn’t afford to lose. Pickford saved a James Maddison penalty deep into injury time in the first-half. It was such a pivotal moment at such a crucial stage of the season; the game ended in a 2-2 draw, a crucial result which kept them in touch with their opponents on the night.
Everton stayed up by two points later that month, with Leicester dropping out of the league. These moments can never be underestimated, and Pickford was at the heart of it
Everton must secure his signature on a new deal in my opinion. He’s by far the most successful goalkeeper the club has had since the days of the legendary Neville Southall, and whilst he may have a way to go to emulate the great Welshman with silverware, his importance to the club is on a par.
Catching up with Farhad Moshiri during Everton’s draw with Aston Villa
I had the pleasure of being in the company of former owner Farhad Moshiri on Saturday at the game, and it seems he still has a lot of affection for the club.
He told me: “It is such a pleasure to be here for a league game and to see the stadium come to life. It means a lot to see the smiles on the fans’ faces, they make it a special place and it’s wonderful to see the club thriving under the stewardship of David Moyes and the ownership of TFG. I’m really pleased.”