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Everton’s season has mostly been underwhelming. Marco Silva has failed to ignite and invigorate the Toffees in the manner that many had expected. Their surprising 2-0 triumph against Chelsea, the first on home soil since the 13th of January, was a welcome result that has seemingly eased the pressure that was mounting on the manager’s shoulders.
Despite healthy summer investment, which included the addition of three players from Barcelona, the Toffees have failed to fulfil expectations. Irrespective of their unfavourable form, and the fact that they’re languishing in the bottom half of the table; there have been identifiable highlights. The form and promise of Richarlison, who has totalled 12 league goals (13 in all competitions) is an encouraging sign, while Gylfi Sigurðsson, valued at £27 million by Transfermarkt, is beginning to return to the peak of his powers, justifying the club’s hefty investment for his services in 2017.
At the age of 29, he’s sustained his influence in one of the world’s most decorated divisions and his importance to Everton, particularly this season, cannot be underestimated. However, for a player of his calibre who has continually succeeded at club and international level, should he don aspirations of one final big move?
During his inaugural season in Merseyside, the initial excitement of his arrival was masked by a disappointing total of seven-goal contributions in 27 league appearances; hardly indicative of his calibre or experience. Contrastingly, this season has been markedly different in its outlook for the Icelandic midfielder, with Sigurðsson contributing towards 15 goals (scoring 12 and providing three assists) in 31 Premier League games – averaging just shy of a goal contribution every two games. It’s the best goal tally that he has amassed in a single Premier League season, bettering his record in the Bundesliga too.
As an individual who rose to prominence with Reading, and has since represented Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, spectators are well versed to his qualities. A dead-ball specialist, a creative architect and an astute technician, the midfielder is one of the most gifted players outside the league’s top six teams.
In a Swansea side that was severely threatened by relegation, and suffocated from appropriate quality in every position, the Icelander contributed towards 20 league goals (nine goals, 11 assists), which almost, single-handedly, prevented the Welsh club from being relegated during the 2016/17 season. Similarly, he has been an integral figure to the recent success of his country, contributing towards 33 goals (20 goals, 13 assists) in 64 international caps.
To focus solely on his statistical output is a disservice to a player that makes the game seem so elementary in its progression. In the final third of the pitch, and when afforded space, Sigurðsson is challenging to negate, his ability to play incisive, penetrative passes and score from long distance ensures that he exhibits a versatile attacking skill set.
Continually, the midfielder has demonstrated his effectiveness at both club and international level and plausibly, he could be of immense benefit to a top-six team, willing to accommodate his creativity. A perceptible trend in modern football has been meaningful ball retention which leads to an abundance of chance creation, showcased in the Premier League through the footballing ideals of Klopp, Pochettino and Guardiola. This focus on meaningful use of possession and penetrating attacks is attuned to the specialist skill set that Sigurðsson exhibits.
As he displayed at Swansea and is continuing to illustrate at Everton, he is capable of impacting games purposefully, regardless of the quality that surrounds him. Plausibly, his influence will only heighten if surrounded by players of greater quality, and perhaps he should look beyond Goodison Park, to honour his talent and career with potential silverware.
The most successful teams require a continuous and varied flow of goals, dependence on one player, best encapsulated by Chelsea’s reliance on Eden Hazard, can be utterly problematic and it’s unsustainable for a team vying for trophies. Not many midfielders in the league demonstrate similar quality to Sigurðsson, especially not in their statistical contributions. Resultantly, the top-six teams should be paying closer attention to his magnificent season.