Overall, Everton should be really pleased with how they played against Tottenham Hotspur on the road yesterday.
Despite a difficult beginning that saw them fall behind by two goals early on, their response was remarkable and uncharacteristically different from anything the away supporters had witnessed from their club in recent memory.
They battled to return, and in the end, they may feel cheated that they were unable to, with Andy Gray even offering his opinion on what he believed the Toffees “deserved.”
It was not an entirely remarkable afternoon, though, and the outcome was undoubtedly disappointing. Idrissa Gana Gueye played for just 24 minutes, one could still claim that his lackluster performance stood out much more.
Sean Dyche may have concluded that he cannot be a starter in 2024 due to his midfield culpability and aging body.
How did Idrissa Gana Gueye perform for Everton against Spurs?
While it may appear somewhat critical to evaluate the Senegal international for what was ultimately a brief appearance on the field, it is his actions during his short playing time that lead to such a conclusion.
He remains a significant concern in the midfield, often prone to losing possession in crucial areas. Even though he consistently wins the ball, it doesn’t compensate for his occasional mistakes.
Yesterday was no exception, as the 34-year-old completed only five passes with a success rate of 63%. This inaccuracy proved costly, contributing to the second goal as Heung-min Son tapped in following Jordan Pickford’s poor save.
Although such possession errors are usually balanced by his defensive contributions, Gueye found it challenging to showcase his defensive prowess given his limited time on the pitch.
It is unclear if their financial status may be improved in January or the following summer, as things are still a little unclear.
I have arrived at this opinion because of what the Senegal international performed in his brief on-field appearance, despite the fact that criticising him for it may seem harsh.
He is, after all, a major source of concern in the engine room as he is prone to losing control in crucial situations. Even if he consistently wins the ball, there are moments when his guilt cannot be overridden.
This was evident yesterday as the 34-year-old would only manage five successful passes with a 63% completion percentage. Heung-min Son scored the second goal after Jordan Pickford made a terrible save, and this error proved to be expensive for him as well.
Even if his defensive play frequently makes up for that kind of carelessness when in possession, Gueye struggled to stand out in that area because of his limited playing time.
Although he did manage one tackle, per Sofascore, he was also dribbled past once, losing 50% of the two duels he participated in and having fewer touches (9) than his goalkeeper (45).
But the booking he received is what actually makes him weaker and provides evidence that he should not start in 2024. He was hurt in an unnecessary challenge and had to be substituted; such unreliability cannot be permitted to stay in the starting lineup.
