Gueye fires Senegal into the semi-finals

Wednesday, 10 July, 2019 38comments  |  Jump to most recent

Idrissa Gueye scored the only goal as Senegal progressed to the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations this evening.

The Everton midfielder struck with 20 minutes to go to beat Benin and book the Teranga Lions' place in the semi-finals.

It was Gueye's second goal of the tournament.  



Reader Comments (38)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Justin Doone
1 Posted 10/07/2019 at 20:18:54
He's now worth at least £80M!

A defensive midfielder who puts in 100% all the time, runs, tackles, tracks back, closes down and can score.

He's superb and at 29 is at his peak, not past it like some suggest. He's got another 3 or 4 years at his peak yet.

Tony Abrahams
2 Posted 10/07/2019 at 20:27:55
Took his goal really well, and was then pulled down when about to go clean through, which resulted in a sending off for his opponent.

Hope he stays, but it looks as though things might start hotting-up in the next couple of weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sign for PSG.

Brian Cleveland
3 Posted 10/07/2019 at 20:51:07
What's all this talk about needing to sign a goalscorer?
Fran Mitchell
4 Posted 10/07/2019 at 20:51:55
As I mentioned in another thread, we must do our all to keep him.

He is the peak of his powers, since January I'd say he's been one of the best midfielders in the business. Beyond his tirelessness, his tackling, closing down he's added more dynamism, more breaking forward with the ball, more attacking threat, more forward passing. He's a complete midfielder.

And I'm shocked that some people feel we'd be better off selling him for 25-30 million because he's 29. With his fitness levels, I'd say he has at least 4 years at the top level. And to replace him would cost at least 50 million, with no guarantees (look at Fred at Man Utd).

For me, we should offer him a 4 year contract and the captains armband. If he does push for a move, demand 50+ million.

David Pearl
5 Posted 10/07/2019 at 21:02:06
He really is that good. It wont happen but I'd really like to see Gomes and Siggy play around him. As in drop Siggy a little deeper or even bring Bernard in the middle. We push our wide players too wide. I'd like to see tweaking so that our full backs play wide and further upfield so we are more compact. Of course we need another goal scorer but we have the players, of they believe in themselves. Anyway... I wonder when the new football manager is out.
Phil Bellis
6 Posted 10/07/2019 at 21:17:17
Great player and we really need to keep him but decision out of our hands I think
He must be a nightmare to play against... a wasp crossed with an ankle biting terrier
Alan McGuffog
8 Posted 10/07/2019 at 21:19:36
How long left on his contract?
Steve Ferns
9 Posted 10/07/2019 at 21:30:27
Didn’t he sign a new deal last year Alan. He’s got ages left. Who said Gueye is past it? He gets better every season. I’ve mooted cashing in as he’s getting close to 30 and the resale value will plummet in a couple of years. But in his current form, it’d be madness to sell him unless we have better lined up for cheaper.
Rob Halligan
10 Posted 10/07/2019 at 21:52:16
Steve, Gueye is contracted until June 2022. So 3 years left to run. Will cost an absolute fortune to buy him off us.
Christy Ring
11 Posted 10/07/2019 at 21:52:24
The bottom line, we CAN'T let him go.
Jamie Sweet
12 Posted 10/07/2019 at 22:17:34
Fantastic goal from Idrissa, bursting into the box.

With Senegal going so deep in the tournament now, does that make it possible he could miss the first game or two of the season?

Alan McGuffog
13 Posted 10/07/2019 at 22:24:01
Can't really lose then can we? Still at height of career. We keep a top notch player and build around him OR cash in now for £60 mill +. I should be in charge.
Frank Wade
14 Posted 10/07/2019 at 22:57:51
Well done Idrissa. PSG have signed Herrera from Man Utd, so maybe not so keen. He is irreplaceable. It's like playing with 12 men when he is in the team. I'm with Fran above, his fitness levels are akin to those Ethiopian/Kenyan distance runners. Never looks tired. What a signing by Steve Walsh !!!!
Adolf Ng
15 Posted 10/07/2019 at 23:59:10
Hope he wins the African Cup and we will have two players who have won major international tournaments. This will likely bring the winning mentality to Goodison Park for trophies.
Ajay Gopal
16 Posted 11/07/2019 at 05:14:01
I would keep him and let the youngsters Davies and Baningime learn off him. His position demands so much work that I would like some ‘rotation' like what American baseball does with the pitchers. Play Gueye for 25-30 games, and let McCarthy (if fully fit), Davies and Baningime start in about 5-6 games each and come on as subs in about 15 games.
Bobby Mallon
17 Posted 11/07/2019 at 06:18:23
What a player
John G Davies
18 Posted 11/07/2019 at 06:55:50
I think Idrissa has surprised a lot of people. He is much, much more than a player who's only asset is tackling. All out to keep him.
Terry Farrell
19 Posted 11/07/2019 at 07:07:32
Fran agree with every word of your post.
Peter Warren
20 Posted 11/07/2019 at 07:15:04
Would like to keep him but feel it unlikely given his value.

My preference would be keep him, get rid of deadwood, Besic, Bolaise, McCarthy and Schneirderlin.

Sam Hoare
21 Posted 11/07/2019 at 07:23:52
I’m glad he’s now getting the recognition he deserved. Been my favourite Everton player for a while now even if his passing is frustrating at times. World class at tackling and interceptions.

Transfer wise I’d like him to stay but I could not begrudge him the wish to move. He’s been such a pro and only has a few more years at his absolute peak. If he’s going to move to a CL club it needs to be soon. Unless we gatecrash top 4!

Silva quite rightly loves him and will be loathe to let him go. But if a £35-40m bid comes in then business wise I imagine that may be hard for the club to turn down on a player who’ll be worth a quarter that in 2-3 years time. I hear Tuchel at PSG is still keen despite the Herrera signing. Time will tell.

If he does go then he’ll be nigh on impossible to replace but there are some good young defensive midfielders out there who could give it a shot.

Jack Convery
23 Posted 11/07/2019 at 17:03:59
If he is going to PSG he's making sure we get top dollar. I hope he doesn't as he and Gomes will do very well for us this coming season.
Gordon Crawford
24 Posted 11/07/2019 at 17:18:39
Ajay you can’t do that in football. You play until your dropped.
I hope he stays too and I’m glad he scored the winner.
Jim Bennings
25 Posted 11/07/2019 at 18:55:31
It’s breaking news that PSG have come back with a bid for Gana, if this is true then this would be a massive loss to us as he has now become the vital cog that we wanted him to be 18 months ago.

We can not replace that energy no matter what money we take in because who will we be able to attract here?

Also looks like Lookmans days here are numbered with Leipzig making a bid for him.

James Flynn
26 Posted 11/07/2019 at 19:15:06
If we don't want to let Gueye go, we don't have to. He clearly was interested in going in January, but didn't pout about it when the Club said no.


Sean Patton
27 Posted 11/07/2019 at 19:19:07
We are talking about PSG here one of the richest clubs in the world so it's silly money if they want him – nothing less than £60M!
Mike Gaynes
28 Posted 11/07/2019 at 19:22:57
Various reports have PSG offering £30m while we are demanding £45m.

We shouldn't settle for a cent less, but if he really wants to go, you have to let him.

David Pearl
29 Posted 11/07/2019 at 19:27:03
We don’t really have to let him though do we Mike, although we will if the price is right. Brands has been looking at alternatives all summer if you believe the papers. I really didn’t want too many changes to our starting line up this season, better to start with a settled line up.
Jim Bennings
30 Posted 11/07/2019 at 19:31:03
I think if this is a real serious bid from PSG then Gana will go this time, no doubt about it he applied himself so well from January onwards but we probably knew this was coming.

It’s a monumental loss and I don’t know where a natural experienced replacement comes from, to play that role that Gana does so well you need experience and the know how of putting fires out, he’s been perfect at that since Gareth Barry’s departure.

So disappointing if this deal happens.

Fran Mitchell
31 Posted 11/07/2019 at 19:55:56
If PSG want him, then £45 million, plus Cavani with them covering his wages.

If we are serious about our challenging the top 4, we must keep our best player.

Like Palace with Zaha, Leicester with Maguire... play hardball.

Jim Bennings
32 Posted 11/07/2019 at 20:09:14
Fran

The only time we have ever played hardball with any player was the stance on John Stones thanks to Martinez's refusal to bow to Chelsea in summer 2015, inevitably the following summer he left but at least it was a year after he begged to go and it wasn't to Chelsea.

We bent over as soon as Man Utd came calling for Lukaku, regardless of his failings there, he scored 25 goals that season for us.

We bent over and got done by Man Utd for Rooney before his best years. It's what we do at Everton.

Eugene Ruane
33 Posted 11/07/2019 at 20:26:16
His running, closing down and tackling would be missed and if (IF!) he goes, it will be very very very...(sips tea)...very very VERY difficult to find a like-for-like replacement.

Very.

Mike Gaynes
34 Posted 11/07/2019 at 20:38:46
David #29, legally speaking, no, we can keep him here and hold him to his contract.

But if a player wants to move on to realize his dreams, you can't keep him forever, and if ever a player has earned the right to ask for that consideration, it's Gana.

I'm all for hardball and getting the maximum return, and we've already showed PSG we're willing to do that, so the current bid should be dismissed out of hand. But at some point we'll just have to shake his hand and wish him the best.

And at that point I'll be sitting in the corner sucking my thumb, because as Eugene says, this is as close to an irreplaceable player as we've had in a long time.

Joe O'Brien
35 Posted 11/07/2019 at 20:45:05
Yep, Mike, I'm with you at that one mate. Gutted if he goes... he'll leave a massive hole in our midfield... but the way he played since that move didn't happen in January spoke wonders about the man. No such thing as 'downing tools', where an awful lot of the current professionals would do.

We can legally keep him but, out of respect for him, I'd say get top dollar and wish him all the best.

David Pearl
36 Posted 11/07/2019 at 20:47:11
But for Tom Davies of Liverpool. opportunity knocks!

And if not then maybe a slight change in shape and tactics. If he does go then Brands has even more to do over the next (sips Whiskey)... (and again), 3/4 weeks.

Brian Williams
37 Posted 11/07/2019 at 21:05:03
The club, if Gana still wants to go, should explain to him that they're willing to let him go only if their valuation is met. They should then inform PSG, if indeed they HAVE renewed their interest, that this is the price and it's non negotiable.
Paul Birmingham
38 Posted 11/07/2019 at 21:22:32
Great goal by Gana, who's on fire.

Ironically PSG are back on the sniff, and perhaps this could be genuinely a serious test.

Let's pray he stays as we will lose the heart beat of the team if he goes and our combative edge in midfield.

This preseason we need some positive news soon as it looks likely this time we will be doing late business.

It's sombering times and surely Marcel Brands will play his ace cards soon, and we get players in, with minimum time to gel and bond into the squad.

We must start the season stronger in terms of squad than we finished. Will it happen?

Fran Mitchell
39 Posted 11/07/2019 at 21:23:53
Davies certainly has ability, but in Gueye's position, I feel players benefits from experience, this is why Gueye only seems to get better. So to ask a 20/21 year old to fill the role is unfair, and Davies is still finding his role. This should be a big year for him.

I honestly don't know what we'd do without Gueye.

Look at the teams who next season will battle for 3rd/4/5/6th, imo, 7 teams: Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Man Utd, Everton, Leicester, Wolves.

Arsenal: Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Guendouzi
Spurs: Ndombele, Dier, Winks, Sissoko, Erikson*
Chelsea: Kanté, Jorginho, Kovacic, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek
Man Utd: Fred, Lingard, Mata, McTominay, Matic, Pogba*
Everton: Gomes, Gueye, Sigurdsson, Davies, Schneiderlin
Leicester: Tielemans, Maddison, Ndidi, Choudhury, Barnes
Wolves: Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Gibbs-White

I'd say, apart from Spurs, Everton's is as good any there. But take away Gomes, and we're arguably the weakest.

Alan McGuffog
40 Posted 11/07/2019 at 22:35:42
No we don't have to let him go. He is contracted to us for another few years. He CAN go..but on our terms. We hold the cards for once

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads