Idrissa Gana Gueye playing for Everton.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Everton fans bid farewell to Idrissa Gana Gueye in the summer, after it was decided he wouldn’t extend his contract.
There was an option to do another year with the Toffees but in the end, the Senegal international moved on after a four-year second spell. He now plays for Al-Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.
There was a bit of concern about Idrissa Gueye’s exit because despite his advancing years, he was still a very influential player. He was relentless in Everton’s engine room, and always covered a lot of distance. And his game was very much about getting the ball back for the Toffees.
But so far this season, his name has barely been mentioned.
And arguably that is a testament to James Garner, whose defensive data so far this season makes for impressive reading.
What’s your honest position on Thierno Barry at the moment? 10 big chances missed in the PL, but six goals across all competitions. It's fair to say he divides opinion at Everton, but Dewsbury-Hall is a fan…👀
Credit: Getty Images/James Gill – Danehouse/Gary Oakley – Everton FC/Everton FC
He's raw but there's something there. Just needs to start converting a few more chances. Great finish the other night
I like him. The most worrying thing would be if he wasn’t getting chances. Facts are, he is often in the right position and never gives up Too hugely important attributes. I just hope the third - finishing - comes soon
Surely the issue is not Thierno Barry but simply that there is no viable alternative
James Garner has cushioned the blow of losing Idrissa Gueye
Gueye’s exit had the potential to really sting, but so far it has not really been felt by Everton – and Garner is a big reason for that.
As per Fotmob, he is currently the top-ranked Everton player for defensive contributions per 90. He is averaging 12.2 per game, which puts him ahead of Jarrad Branthwaite (11.3) and James Tarkowski (10.7).
He is also the top Everton player so far for tackles per 90, with 3.4. That, of course, was Gueye’s bread and butter.
Garner is also second for recoveries per 90 (6.4) behind only Jordan Pickford (10.7), and he is also right up there for distance covered per 90. He is joint-third with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with both averaging 11.3km per game.
This is all quite impressive when you factor in Garner not having a pre-season. The midfielder underwent surgery on a groin injury, which meant he could only come off the bench in Everton’s first game against Crystal Palace. He would surely have started had he been fully fit. But he has started the last five, which is good news for Everton.
He probably hasn’t reached the kind of level that Everton fans know he can just yet. Of course last season, Garner was the standout player for Everton, which was acknowledged when he was named the club’s Player of the Season. But his lack of preparation as a result of having the surgery has to be considered.
But even despite that, he is clearly still doing well, as these metrics show.
That there has barely been any mention of Gueye since he left is a great reflection on him. His energy has been impressive, and he is doing the dirty work that everyone associated with Gueye.
It was thought that perhaps Hayden Hackney would be Gueye’s replacement. But at the moment he is still finding his way, and Garner is the player who has stepped into his shoes.
Hopefully soon, the playmaking side of his game will catch up. He has yet to make an assist and David Moyes will want to see him chip in on that front.