Gylfi - Icelandic Genius

A lot of his Everton career feels as though he's not been used correctly, which has hampered his effectiveness, and made supporters dislike him. He runs about a lot, but doesn't make hard tackles, so fans don't take to him - especially at a club like ours where most fans prefer a player who looks as though he's trying hard, even if he lacks talent.

I don't know those players you've mentioned, but as someone who lives near Norwich and has seen a fair bit of him, Buendia can and I believe, will do it at a Premier League club in the not too distant future.

Another one stealing a living. We need pace, energy, aggression in midfield, sadly Gylfi has none of these qualities. Once the goals dried up, he became a passenger.

If America want him for a fee in the summer we have to take it. We have to be looking for our own Bruno Fernandes to give us more mobility and goals from midfield. I too like Buendia, but 40m is a lot . 20-25m last summer would have been shrewd business.

Whilst we’re at it, I am losing faith with Iwobi. He’s still holding back on his commitment to make things happen, to close down fast and to bring more desire to his play. He drives me mad as I have thought for ages there was more to come from him. He just can’t seem to break through to that next level we need.

If we can sell him and get someone like Ismailia Sarr in it would improve our attack.

I hope he doesn’t play tomorrow, same with Luca Digne, because tomorrow will be our 4th game in eleven games, and they’ve both looked shattered since the Fulham game.

I’d be happy to keep him and Rodriguez for the 10 role but only ever one at a time and focus on surrounding them with more pace and power.
I really like Pedro Neto at Wolves. Him on the right, Richy on the left and DCL up top with siggy/James floating around behind them.

I might look at that position at some point (it's the position we needed to fill when we bizarrely bought Iwobi). But will probably look at the right back slot next.

And that really is the crux of the problem. He is a passenger most of the time. His stats are rubbish considering he takes most of our set-pieces. He took a corner against Leeds and scored a tap in, and somehow he was back to his best according to some. If you look at what he did in the rest of the game, he did nothing except run around a lot and point. He's probably the best player in Europe at doing that.

Unfortunately, I see a player going through the motions. Most of his passes are sideways or backwards. He treats the ball like a hot potato – watch how he gets it and fires it back to whoever passes it to him.

He's simply not good enough. If he left Everton, where would he go? I predict a small Spanish club or something like that, maybe MLS. No club in the top half of the Premier League would touch him.

I got frustrated by him especially in in set-pieces environment that when his delivery is not great. I expect at lot of him in that department. Same as Digne. If he can't cross the ball well, I got mad.

Also, all the managers still pick him for some reason after Koeman. They must have seen him doing something right in training.

You have either had a bang on the head or a red in disguise.

Stats look good until you maybe show us the stats on tackles he made/didnt make that cost us a goal, fouls he gave that cost us, finger pointing to nothing.

Siggi is poo, deal with it.

'He took a corner against Leeds and scored a tap in.'

That was no tap in. Look at his starting position (on the half way line) as that moved developed, the ground he made up and his movement and anticipation to totally blindside the Leeds defence to be in position to...score a 'tap in.'

I await your revision of his contribution in the cup win over Spurs, Danny.

Nicely constructed article, Robert. I appreciate what you attempted to present. Thanks.

He is slower than my nan.
He glides into spaces he knows he won't receive the ball.
He tackles like a 5 year old.
His marking at set pieces is atrocious.
He never tracks midfield runners.
His set pieces and corners are so ineffectual he has been removed from duties.
He should leave in the summer.

Regardless of the position he is asked to play he gives his all. And guess what... when played as a number 10 his production numbers increase.

Fucking imagine that.

Given our change of shape and how well it worked vs the shite maybe Brands/Carlo will take stock of the performance and decide we could do with more assists from the right back area.

The shape we played opened my eyes and l can see us adopting it more often so that Siggy or James can perhaps occupy the space behind, hopefully, our front 2. Or front 1 when we play away.

Tw never fails. Was there a article l missed the week before called Davies For England??

The only thing Sigurdsson lacks is blistering pace, because he has talent, works hard and does manage to assist in making and scoring a few goals per season.
Plus he also scores in Derby games more than the imposter Barkley ever managed.

I rather think Ronald Koeman merits those monikers for helping to drive Ross out of the club.

I doubt we will ever see such poor handling of a player asset as happened under Koeman and Walsh under Ancelotti and Brands.

Dont know the lad so can't say if he is or isn't odious.
He certainly conducted himself in an odious manner in the period before he left Everton.
Agree on the Koeman take

Other than Oumar Niasse no other player was more publicly abused than Ross Barkley under Koeman, for no good reason at all. Plenty on here were constantly critical of how that situation was handled, overwhelmingly sympathetic towards Ross.

Koeman alone is not to blame. Why did none of the high-ups at the club stop to think, as Barkley's contract was running down, that the constant criticism of Ross was not conducive to improving his form or the likelihood of him signing a contract extension? Why did no one step in to mediate things to ensure a more favourable outcome?

That Ross got injured shortly before his intended transfer to Chelsea on the eve of a new season - the final year of his contract - and so we possibly lost £10-15 million on the deal when he did leave in January served to highlight just how badly the club handled it.

I can think of a number of players down the years who possibly merit being described as imposters and odious. Some in very recent history. Ross Barkley is not one of them.

Of course you didn't Thomas. How silly of me to misrepresent your words @ 34.

'He certainly conducted himself in an odious manner in the period before he left Everton.'

You regularly conduct yourself in a pompous, condescending manner.

I have no idea if you are a pompous, condescending person.
I don't know you.

See how it works?

Play him a front three and he will always give you options. His biggest weakness is he lacks pace but he works tirelessly, he nearly always tops the yards covered measure. He’s 31 but given his fitness levels he’s still got four years in him as a squad player.

The haters on here won’t change their opinion but as ever their opinion counts for jack.

The Rabiot rumours have started up again this weekend which is interesting. Juve might well sell because they're in danger of missing out on Champions league and are very well stocked in midfield.

Maybe a more compact midfield 3 next season with no number 10 at all. As the article suggests we'd be hard pressed to find a player of his quality with pace and aggression to go with it.

You don't need to know a person to offer a subjective view on their conduct, rather than an objective one, so it doesn't count as being derogatory about them.

Yes, I see how that works for you. Most convenient.

I'm not prepared to indulge you.

Indulge?
Hardly, you have no answer to a legitimate, polite question?
Your perogative.

Thank you

I'd love for us to go for a couple of attacking midfielders this summer who would render Gylfi superfluous, but to me the biggest need is for pace. We are still desperately slow in the center of the park. I think when we have midfielders who can blow past opponents and make defenders back up, the goals will come, especially if we add an attacking right back who can cross the ball.

I haven't seen any of the four youngsters you named, but I'd be very interested in your opinion of some who have caught my eye at times this season -- Bellingham and Reyna of Dortmund, Wirtz of Leverkusen (I don't think we could get his teammate Diaby), Gravenbach of Ajax, Cunha of Herta, Gil of Eibar and the two kids at Shakhtar, Tete and Solomon.

And by the way, to me Michael Keane is our player of the year at this point, and nobody else is a close second.

Carlo may stay with a deep defence next season in saying that though.

I think we could play a compact trio of Allan, Doucoure and, say, Rabiot - because this would allow Richarlison to stay much higher up the pitch.

This addresses the lack of goals (I did a thrilling article about this last year with even more stats but less of a clickbait title so no-one read it).

Richarlison is capable of 20 goals in a good team, DCL 25 goals and then we need another wide forward on the right (ideally left footed) to get us 10 to 15 goals.

The players who tend to get a mention are Bailey and Neres (Malcom's career has fizzled out). There's also Gonzalez of Stuttgart who looks like he could really have some quality and end product. Tete looks good but to be a star in the Prem he'd need to getting a much bigger goal haul in the Ukraine than he is currently (but there's time).

One of these plus a Goncalves or Olise (or someone) would make us very strong indeed.

I agree Calvert-Lewin is undoubtedly the Player of the Season. A young player who has come of age and who any side in this league would take.

I've less reservations than you about Keane. He lacks pace without doubt, which is pretty troubling for a centre-half but he's growing into a player. He's brave, good in the air, has that invaluable knack of anticipation. He reminds me a bit of John Terry – not the most technical footballer but a bit of a warrior.

On another note, I watched John Stones today, what a player he has turned out to be. A complete centre-half.

He's a decent attacking midfielder. Capable of a goal or assist. And the reason he gets picked is that, in addition to those abilities, he also puts in a shift. That's who he is and we made the choice to buy that player.

When played on the wing or up front, he's too slow. When played in a defensive midfield role, he's not physical enough. Never heard him complain about being put in those positions though.

In my opinion, he's actually been a decent servant.

Thanks for the feedback, Robert #52. You're the most informed player scout we have on TW, but I gotta say my estimation drops a bit whenever you mention Rabiot.

I watch every Juve game -- especially now with McKinney there -- and I couldn't be less interested in Rabiot to Everton. He's extravagantly talented, brutally expensive and totally nonproductive -- 29 games this season and one meaningless goal. One. And he creates nothing for others. In important games the guy is harder to find than Amelia Earhart. I know Carlo likes him, but I hope we don't go after him as rumored.

Bailey won't even glance at us for the same reason as Reyna. But Neres is a great shout and so, from my one viewing of him, is Gonzalez... pace on the flank. Want it. Want it.

It would be an exercise in futility to offer any response when you continue to ignore and deny the evidence of your own words which more than answer your own vacuous question @ 44.

You're welcome.

His passing skills are sublime on the rare occasions our attack plays with belief and effort. The recent win against Spurs showed this time and again. In a listless team though, which we are far too often, his skill-set becomes irrelevant as he's reduced to having to try to mimic Lee Carsley by his own team's woeful inertia, and that's never been his strength. I think this is what Seamus was going on about post-match re the new dressing room psyche. All "believe" and make the runs, and Gylfi will deliver (Gomes is similar but with more nark).

And as for re-signing Barkley, come on! I'd still take Carsley before him, even now! Once again today he was hooked for a poor performance in a team that'd just lost its most creative player in midfield. Did Barkley step up? No chance. Even the MotD2 highlights exemplified his absent commitment to his team's cause, all over the pitch. Sadly, I just don't think he truly understands the game, despite a very, very occasional glorious moment admittedly.

And lastly, Tom Davies resembled Reidy at Anfield as far as I'm concerned. Take a bow, young man!

Sigurdsson? Problem with him is he needs a side to be set up to his strengths and, even then, he is just good, not brilliant, more often than not. James is similar in that respect, he needs players around him that allow him to do his thing, but is obviously a class above. Having both in the squad is good. Having both on the pitch at the same time isn't!!!

Cost too much. Too often used out of position. If Micheal Keane was put as a Number 10 each week, he would be vilified because he would in all likelihood be crap in that position.

Vacuous? As I said, pompous and condescending.

The chronology of our respective contributions to this thread (on the subject of Gylfi Sigurdsson and potential replacements) is the following:

@ 24 I call attention to just what Siggy did to score what another poster dismissed as a 'tap in' for his goal away to Leeds and praised Robert the author of the article for his analysis.

@ 33 I questioned a poster for describing Ross Barkley as 'odious and an imposter', expressing a belief that I doubt he would have been so mishandled by Ancelotti and Brands as he was under Koeman and Walsh.

@ 34 YOU addressed ME and also describred Ross' conduct as odious, without describing or establishing what you found odious in his conduct.

@ 35 I described the circumstances of Ross' final 2 years at Everton and how several parties at the club were negligent in alienating the player as his contract was winding down. This resulted in having a wasting and justifiably disgruntled asset on our books, rather than tying him down to a contract and ensuring top dollar for him if and when we sold him, or retaining him to our benefit.

I concluded that post by saying 'I can think of a number of players down the years who possibly merit being described as imposters and odious. Some in very recent history. Ross Barkley is not one of them.'

@ 36 you addressed me again in a single sentence claiming you did not call Ross 'odious'.

@ 37 I quoted your earlier post verbatim in which you most certainly did consider Ross' conduct 'odious'.

@ 38 you launch a gratuitously abusive ad hominem attack on another poster rather than honestly acknowledge you had indeed described Ross as 'odious'.

@ 43 I flag up the obvious duplicity in your previous post, being derogatory to another poster without just cause.

@ 44 you ask where were you derogatory.

@ 45 I tell you I'm not prepared to indulge you.

@ 46 you attempt to position yourself as the virtuous victim, claiming you had asked a polite question to which I had no answer.

@ 54 I give you a very explicit answer as to just why it would be an exercise in futility to respond to your vacuous question when you continued to deny the evidence of your own words as already pointed out.

Now, @ 60, you explicitly repeat the derogatory remarks @ 38 when you had previously refused to acknowledge making such.

I am more than comfortable with my contribution to the actual subject matter of this thread, and how I have responded to the conceit, deceit, hypocrisy and shallowness of your own posts Thomas, content-free as they are on anything actually related to football.

Surely a man of your standing understands the meaning of a question mark??

I await another wasted two hours of your life composing another War and Peace length post.
Oxford Concise to hand of course.

Zzzzzzzzzz

Mike G points out that this topic has run its course but Jay’s analysis of the Barkley departure hits the nail on the head. Ross is not “odious” and has never deserved the contempt heaped upon him by many Evertonians, of whom he is still one, who cannot accept that the club screwed up both in mishandling his contract and by essentially entering into a bidding war against itself to pay way over the odds for Gyllfi.

You do know the definition of that term?

He couldn’t, for example, have played the ball that James did for Doucoure. He would have needed another touch to control the ball and the opportunity would have been lost. He is dire in central midfield and is also dire against teams that defend deep and deny him space between the lines and prevent him passing into space.

He should be a part time player (difficult with £45m), used against teams who play more expansive and done park the bus, and also used as an impact sub when we are winning to put teams to bed. He should not be used at home to the likes of Fulham WBA and Newcastle.

'Gylfi couldn’t, for example, have played the ball that James did for Doucoure [Richy?].'

Sure about that Kevin? Just 10 days and 3 games ago watch what Siggy did for our 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th goals.

Everton 5 Spurs 4

Goals 3, 4 and 5 - Sigurdsson had the ball under control and played good balls into space for runners that stretch defences. He’s very good at that, but needs that touch or two to get the ball under control, look up and play into space. That’s one of the reasons he shines against these types of teams and kind of proves my point. There is space in front of the defence and runners trying to stretch the defence.

Goal 1 is what he generally struggles with, that instinctive ball. He did it on this occasion, but doesn’t usually.

I don’t think he could have controlled the ball the way James did with one touch and have the presence of mind and patience to play that pass with his next touch.

He is a very good player, but only in certain conditions.

Why should his price tag back then have any impact on how he is used today?

Same thing with the Barkley debate. Old news, endlessly rehashed for no apparent reason. I just don't get it.

It frustrates me that much, I’ve even stopped thinking hard lines. So many nearly great balls, probably stop him from being a top player, although this doesn’t mean he’s not a good player though!

Allardyce (as much as I loathe him) was at least honest about Lookman vs Bolasie when he said that he couldn’t justify playing Lookman ahead of someone that cost £27m.

Barkley, whatever people think of him, doesn't have better goals and assists than Gylfi (although may have other qualities). Very few do.

So the answer may be to play without a central attacking midfielder and maybe even without Rodriguez. Additional pace and power at the expense of artistry, perhaps. However, it would show our progress as a club to have the luxury of bringing Sigurdsson and Rodriguez into the fold from the bench.

PS, Jay & Thomas, I'm eternally grateful for the argument that helped me beat my personal best of about 15 comments on an article 👍

Anyway, the "bit part" looms. Assuming he's still with us next season, Gylfi will be a reserve behind Allan, James, Doucoure and whatever speedy attacking midfielder Carlo and Marcel buy for us this summer. And if they acquire two (which I hope), Siggy may well be off to Palace or Vitesse or wherever for the price Chris suggests.

And whenever he goes, I will remember him not for his price tag but for a transcendent month of February 2021 -- the masterpiece performance in the best FA Cup tie I've ever seen, and rolling in that classy penalty to clinch at Anfield. In my book those two memories from the past two weeks are worth damn near 45 million all by themselves.

I always try to be fair.

The word odious was used in relation to Ross Barkley.

I posted.
" I don't know if he is an odious person, I don't know him. He did conduct himself in an odious manner before he left"

I'm not talking about football.
I'm talking about the manner he conducted himself out and about.
A fuckin disgrace with his approach to the ladies,them standing with thier partners made no difference to him.
I wouldn't repeat his opening lines to them, people I know have been on the receiving end of it.

The "gangster" (as people like to say) who was videod sparking him is actually a nice young man who works on the railway maintenance.
He was with his girlfriend when Ross tried to give him and her the wise words.

Not interested in how much money he skinned the club for. Most of modern day players are greedy and out of touch.

And seriously man, don't think he hasn't caught some of the invective here from Icelandic friends who check it out. Has he ever started whining like some of the lesser professionals who've worn our kit? He does his job and puts in a shift to the obvious satisfaction of the coach. I could go on.

The club had plenty of time to settle the Barkley issue.

I seem to remember a lot of people on here claiming Koeman was doing the right thing by saying negotiations can wait (Making Barkley earn a contract) I even remember some calling Barkley thick.

Fact is Barkley didnt need to do anything. Rightly or wrongly He just needed to sit tight as instructed by his agent.
I'm not saying Barkley was right or wrong. It was ultimately his decision to choose Chelsea, but in this particular stand off. there was only ever going to be one side which would run out of runway

Common knowledge in Liverpool.
Old saying that liverpool is like a village.
Many, many people who socialise in town will tell you the situation with Barkley.

Any ideas on why a mild mannered working young man would feel the need to knock Barkley unconscious?
Or why Barkley has been in trouble in clubs on a few occasions?

Of no interest to me if you want to believe it or don't believe it.
I know its factual.

A bully who turned out to be something else when push came to shove.

Lack of respect for women is prevalent in society.
A sad indictment.

Liverpool may have its fair share of gossips and tittle tattle peddlers, but it certainly isn't a village.

The Video evidence is clear. The "mild mannered working young man" stole it on Barkley. A cowardly attack when under no threat himself. It's still there for anybody to see.

Millions of people visit this is a cosmopolitan City every day. It makes laugh that people act all ITK about every bit single incident because they have heard it "swear down lid"from somebody equally clueless in the baggy

Liverpool is a village, and the village idiot got sparked, for having no respect and thinking he could carry on like Don Oune, unfortunately.

From memory, a big part of the problem in that transaction were the new American owners of Swansea, who dragged the deal out to a ridiculous degree, resulting in no pre season for Gylfi, insufficient time for them to get players in, and I reckon it was a major reason why they ended up relegated.

Could be I’m wrong of course.

I’m no fan of Kenwright believe me, but in this instance I reckon it was a situation not entirely of his making. Of course Koeman was also putting on the pressure quite publicly. Sign him and we get into Europe!

Gylfi is a good professional, but we overpaid without doubt.

I think the soft-touch days are pretty much behind us.

The problem for me is he is now getting older and slower and while NOONE should question his workrate his response time to situations is poor.

I don't care what he cost but right now I just see him as a valuable squad member but not first choice in an ambitious club.

He was, with the new owners. End of that season?

Get these greedy bastards out of our club!

This, or something similar were the headlines. Didn’t work out well for them, but they got a nice fee for sure.

And Huw probably got a nice little wedge. And we got Gylfi, a good squad player from now on, if he stays.

Apologies if it looked like it was.

It’s all in the past, but every bit of it is true mate, even though it’s got nothing to do with any of us really Martin, and certainly nothing to do with me, which is why I shouldn’t have posted in the first place

A fella who tries to kop for someone else’s bird is a wrongun imo, and I was actually surprised when one of my old mates who was doing a job at my house told me the whole story, which concerned his niece.

Not an old wives tale, but from a normal genuine scouse fella from Vauxhall rd, who also told me it never went further because Barkley and another young Everton player, were caught on camera trying to attack the kid who was well within his rights to give Barkley a smack, later on in the evening even if the lad did steal it on him in the first place!

I spent most of the last few seasons defending Sigurdsson to the hilt. I lost a bit of faith in him last season and was being swayed by peer group pressure, but then I suppose that was symptomatic of what we were watching as a whole. A talented player who does work hard even if not obvious to everyone. Prior to this season I thought he was a player we should have on the pitch as he could just produce that one moment of brilliance that could win or change a game. It wasn't happening as often, but let's face it, who else did we have?

Ironically, now we have a stronger midfield (signings + Davies coming into his own), he has improved and yes, playing him in that number 10 role contributes to that improvement as well as having better quality and competition for places. No rocket science there.

Didn't we already have the the Leeds tap in and took a corner discussion? That was only a "simple" tap in because of the run, the anticipation and the positioning. Sigurdsson made it a simple tap in by his work rate off the ball, but it was far from simple in the broader sense of the phase of play. Similarly, someone called out Richarlison's goal against City and being jammy. Personally, I give credit to the forward for being in the right place and position to take advantage of the rebound off the post. And if Sigurdsson can take a corner like that more often, I'll be more than happy. Great delivery. As for the 4 assists out of the 5 goals against Tottenham; amazing what even an above average player can do when there is actually intelligent movement and running ahead of them.

Graham, I have to agree, but also disagree with you on Michael Keane. He is brave, he is much improved, but his anticipation and reading of the game are a worse flaw than his pace. You can overcome lack of pace with speed of thought and a footballing brain. I fear that once we need to go with a higher line, we will see those "oh f@*k" moments as he watches a ball go over his head and then tries in vein to recover. He is doing fantastic right now, but I suspect that is down to the manager playing a deeper defensive system that suits the players he has, Keane included. Maybe we stick with that for a while; Carlo's shout.

Kevin; very few players could make the pass James made for Richarlison's Kop end goal (yesss!) IMO. Talking of speed of mind, he controls a headed pass out of the air and his mind is made up before the ball hits the ground; the pass is taken on a cushioned half volley. Stunning; but again, the movement in front helps him make his mind up early.

Tony, I owe you an apology from Michael's thread. I got my Abrahams mixed up and called you Dave!!

Done!

Gomes, never got going and, although we won, I was still very disappointed for those Anfield veterans on this thread, and the younger ones in my own family, who still brave going to Anfield every season.