Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
The Enigma of Magaye Gueye
21 Comments: When he was signed Gueye for £1m in the summer of 2010, Evertonians were generally happy; with Moyes?s record finding young talent and the fact Gueye was a France Under 20 international it seemed worth a punt. Eyebrows were raised at the fact he was given a 5 year contract given his relatively unknown status.
After being given a few late substitution appearances, it wasn?t until a year ago today he was given his first Everton league start. For the first 14 games this season he played only 31 minutes and played his first full 90 minutes in a blue shirt against Sunderland yesterday. Drenthe, Anichebe, Straq, Vellios, Barkley and unbelievably even McFadden have at some point been chosen ahead of him. Moyes was even quoted as saying Gueye was his secret weapon, which I have heard jokingly referenced a number of times. I admit on a few substitute appearances he did look a little lost.
From what I can tell, up until his last six or seven appearances, Evertonians haven?t necessarily been divided on Gueye, but almost resigned to the fact he is nothing more than a backup/squad player. But in just a handful of games I believe he has earned himself a place in the semi final. He is firing on all cylinders and despite the odd hint of Bilyaletdniovitus of either not tracking back quick enough or looking occasionally a bit lost he has also shown flashes of brilliance, excellent touches, first class balls into the box, goals and a hat full of assists.
His minor flaws will only be ironed out with more game time. The FA Cup replay at Sunderland he was awesome and in the second half had near enough 100% pass success rate. Yesterday?s league game with Sunderland he was instrumental in two of the goals as well as scoring one. He wasn?t outstandingly brilliant but from Sunderland?s point of view deadly effective.
Gueye was never meant to be ?the next big thing?, and he might not be ? he still has a lot to prove. But I am certain he is Moyes?s secret weapon after all. I am made up for the lad and think he is fully deserved of a place in the starting eleven at Wembley.
Alex Kociuba, Posted 10/04/2012 at 01:24:03
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We've got some good options going forward now and I am confident (although very cautious, considering Moyes's record against the reds) winning is the only outcome!
COYB
In particular was one pass on Saturday where you could almost see Hibbert think "you've passed the ball where? I'm the only person that could run to get to that, I suppose you expect me to run and get that?" then when Hibbert got to the ball he thought "Here! this is a great position I'm now standing in, how the heck did I get here!?" :)
I think that might have been the one he crossed and hit the post with.
He plays a different position - and I'm not saying he's the same quality yet (so please don't shoot me down) - but his attacking approach reminds me a lot of Manny Fernandez.
In my eyes he will be a player who plays in the No.10 position. He's a good forward passer with a bit of vision, he usually gets himself one or two chances a game and his movement is improving game by game.
He's doing a job for us wide and he may be the best option there now but I doubt he will play there long term.
Think he could become a big player for us next season if he gets a run of games and grows in confidence...
If he continues on that path he really could be a potent weapon.
He can definately spot a pass.
Did he have a few issues settling in the area ?
A very good prospect and I hope he is on a decent term contract.
And a very good crosser of the ball.
Yesterday, sitting in the Paddock in a direct line behind him and goal, he should have shot I thought, and he laid off/bottled out. Another bit of negative evidence for me.
Second half he did exactly the right thing - smacked the ball - and we were on our way. And notice the other players' reaction to his success? We really do have a squad. And the other lads clearly see him as part of it. I'll go along with them.
I think he needs to be a lot more direct with his play though. Doesn't really have the pace to be a long term option on the wing. Definitely a prospect though.
I agree with Stephen that he looks more like a central just-off-the-striker type of player rather than a winger.
Redshite proved yesterday they can be deadly on the break and so safety first will be Moyes's tactic as usual. Having said that Blackburn have the worst defence in the Prem.
I can see the game going to extra time.
He gives the left side a real balance and his left foot combined with the deadly one of Baines could potentially be the way forward with Pienaar going in the middle and maybe Drenthe on the right.
If (and that's a big "if") the likes of Gueye, Velios and Coleman are regulars in a season or two in a side that still competes in the top half, the business Moyes did when the money dried up will look brilliant.
There's a player in there somewhere but I thought that about Bilyaletdinov! Think he'll start against Liverpool though ? just hope he jinks past 3 or 4 Reds and smashes in his second goal!
He definitely dribbled past 3 or 4 players, check the footage out from, I reckon, Wolves last April.
I never disputed the goals so not sure what you mean?
He's way more mobile than Bily!
Andrew
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806 Posted 10/04/2012 at 06:30:07
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