During the latest episode of the TIFO Podcast for The Athletic, Joe Devine and Seb Stafford-Bloor were joined by George Caulkin to discuss a variety of Premier League teams.
One topic of conversation on the recent episode, which was titled ‘Manchester United vs Arsenal, Everton’s squad depth & George Caulkin on Newcastle United‘, was Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelandic international joined the Toffees from Swansea City in a £44.46 million deal back in the summer of 2017, and in his three years with the Merseyside club, has gone on to make 122 appearances, contributing 24 goals and 18 assists (per Transfermarkt).
However, the 31-year-old has seemingly lost his starting spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season, perhaps due to the summer signing of James Rodriguez, having made just three starts in the Premier League thus far. The former Tottenham man started the recent game against Newcastle United, and although he earned a fairly solid 6.78/10 rating for his display in the 2-1 defeat, those on the podcast were slightly critical of the attacking midfielder and his role in Everton’s squad.
Devine initiated the conversation on Sigurdsson, saying:
“It’s amazing, in a way, that Gylfi Sigurdsson is considered the depth at Everton, that’s something that you perhaps wouldn’t have had a couple of years ago. He’s not really a playmaker anymore, he’s the kind of guy who shoots from outside the box quite a lot and isn’t on target as much as he used to be.”
Stafford-Bloor then added his thoughts on the midfielder, saying:
“He was a wonderful player, he should never have been lumbered with that fee because that was an overspend, clearly. I think his form has really suffered at Everton and he hasn’t really done himself justice, I don’t think that’s up for debate.”
TIF Thoughts on Devine and Stafford-Bloor’s comments on Sigurdsson…
So far in the Premier League this season, Sigurdsson has averaged 0.7 key passes and 0.4 dribbles per game, which certainly seems to back up Devine’s point that he doesn’t really play as a playmaker anymore. He does, however, have one goal and two assists in three games in the EFL Cup so far this season, which shows he can still be a valuable member of Ancelotti’s squad.
Can Sigurdsson still be an important player for Everton this season?
Yes
No
Stafford-Bloor seems to suggest that the Toffees overspent on Sigurdsson, which seems fair when you consider that he was valued at just £22.5 million when they signed him in 2017 (as per Transfermarkt), which has perhaps put too much pressure on him to perform at Everton. It will be interesting to see how much the Icelandic international continues to feature in the top flight this season, and whether or not he retains his place in the side once Rodriguez returns from the injury that kept him out against Newcastle recently.