The Athletic’s Everton journalist Patrick Boyland has given an insight into why Gylfi Sigurdsson remains a key member of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, per the Gwlad Tidings podcast (February 28th, 19:00).
What’s he said?
Sigurdsson has missed just three Premier League outings this season, being absent from the squad against Manchester United in December and West Ham United and Newcastle United in January.
He has struggled to make a real impact, though, scoring just once in the top-flight and registering a mere two assists.
Boyland, though, has given his opinion on exactly why the Italian continues to select him.
He said: “Carlo Ancelotti keeps selecting him, Marco Silva kept selecting him. It doesn’t mean it’s right but they’ve obviously got their reasons.
“Maybe they select him because first of all, he’s seen as a set-piece specialist. He takes a lot of Everton’s corners and free-kicks.
“Second, people do expect him, because of how good his right foot is, to chip in with more goals.”
Did he really play for us?! No Everton fan has managed to name all of these obscure Toffees players….
Definition of insanity
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
While Sigurdsson did enjoy a promising season in 2018/19, scoring 13 league goals and registering six assists, he has not been great throughout his time at the Toffees.
Signed for a fee of £45m from Swansea City, in 2017/18 he scored four times and registered three assists and this season, he has just one goal to his name and two assists.
He has an average WhoScored rating of 6.72 in the top-flight, and one has to think that there has to be a better alternative within the squad.
Simply expecting him to occasionally whip a free-kick into the top corner does not disguise the fact that, for much of the season, he has been really poor.
Boyland might be right, but if he is, it does not paint Ancelotti in the best light.
Meanwhile, take a look at the Everton XI that could face Manchester United!