Everton manager David Moyes must find a way to solve the Iliman Ndiaye conundrum – Premier League hits and misses | Football news
Everton must find a way to solve the Ndiaye conundrum
Ask any opposition supporter who has faced Everton this season, and most will tell you that for all their attacking problems, they have a player in Iliman Ndiaye.
Stop Ndiaye and you stop Everton. He has three goals, but not a single assist. However, the problem with this miserable run of five goals in 11 league games – nine of which Everton failed to score – is that Ndiaye has appeared to his team-mates as if he were operating in a parallel universe. Isolated and sometimes out of sync.
To put it simply, the Senegalese playmaker had a hard time imposing himself. He won possession seven times against Villa – more than any other player – but managed just one touch in the opposition box. Zero chances created, zero takeover attempts.
On one occasion, Jesper Lindstrom only required a simple two-yard pass to his feet on the edge of the penalty area, but he was somehow wayward in his execution.
Even with Ollie Watkins’ crucial strike, Ndiaye tried to stop Villa’s counter, but in trying to get involved he only caused a mix-up with Jarrad Branthwaite. For all his nice touches and close ball control, last summer’s big signing is nowhere near as effective as he could be.
If David Moyes is to eventually solve Everton’s problems in front of goal, he needs to make better use of Ndiaye than his predecessor.
Ben Grounds
‘Ashley Cole Vibes…Lewis-Skelly Poised For Greatness’
‘Where are all the English left-backs,’ we shouted.
England clearly has a problem now. Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw are struggling to make an impression at the highest level for a variety of reasons.
England needn’t worry though. Miles Lewis-Skelly is the answer. And Thomas Tuchel was at the Emirates to witness it first hand.
The 18-year-old was once again phenomenal. Immediately after the first whistle, he entered the attack and let Raheem Sterling into the goal. That set the tone. And he didn’t give in.
Tottenham are a dangerous team on the right flank with Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski, but you wouldn’t know it based on this game. Lewis-Skelly accompanied all performances with a performance full of tenacity, class and incredible maturity.
No player made more tackles for Arsenal (4), won possession more times (6) and had a higher passing accuracy (93.8 per cent) than Lewis-Skelly as the stats visually confirmed.
There were real Ashley Cole vibes about what we witnessed. Arsenal and England have such talent on their hands.
Lewis Jones
Can anyone stop Isak and Newcastle?
Newcastle games at the moment play out like a classic rom-com – one more game, one more win. And several more goals and assists by Alexander Isak.
Another sign that the Magpies are only going in one direction – up.
And Isak has been a big part of their recent success, which has included nine straight wins in all competitions. On Wednesday, he scored his 18th major league goal of the season, as well as assisting on Anthony Gordon’s 13th goal.
Isak is only the fourth player to score in eight consecutive Premier League appearances, after Jamie Vardy (twice for Leicester), Ruud van Nistelrooy (twice for Manchester United) and Daniel Sturridge (for Liverpool).
He has been labeled as the Premier League’s top scorer at the moment, and given his numbers, it’s hard to argue with that assessment.
Along with the likes of Sandro Tonali, Newcastle are finally reaping the rewards of their transfer strategy. They are now in the top four and it will take something special to stop them.
Charlotte Marsh
Wolves’ weak defense remains a problem
New manager Vitor Pereira has made Wolves more compact since his arrival, but back-to-back 3-0 defeats in the Premier League highlight the defensive improvements still needed if this group of players are to retain their Premier League status for next season.
Emmanuel Agbadou was included for his Premier League debut but endured some awkward moments, while Santi Bueno and Matt Doherty were also guilty of allowing too much space inside their own box for Newcastle’s second and third goals.
Pereira will also need more from his forwards, having created more than enough scoring chances at St James’ Park and in that home defeat to Nottingham Forest. But the defense, the worst in the Premier League, remains the biggest concern.
Adam Bate
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