How Can The Toffees Get The Best From Sigurdsson?

The signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson for a club-record fee of £45 million earlier this season was made to help the club progress to the next level as the Iceland midfielder has been one of the most consistent top-level performers in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons. Sadly the former Swansea man has yet to reach the same heights in an Everton shirt. The question is, how can the new Everton manager get the best from him?

In his last three appearances for the Toffees, Sigurdsson has played in three different positions. Against Arsenal at Goodison Park, he lined up in the centre of the midfield four which allowed him to have more of an impact on the game from the middle of the field. The Icelandic attacker then moved to the middle of a front-three for the trip to Lyon in the Europa League where the Toffees went down 3-0. On his latest outing against Watford, he was on the right side of the front three which included Wayne Rooney and Oumar Niasse.

The majority of Sigurdsson’s success for Swansea came when he was in a wide position as he has the ability to cause problems with his delivery into the box, while when he cuts into the centre he is not afraid to have a shot when he has sight of the goal.  If the Icelandic playmaker can replicate what he did for Swansea alongside Niasse and Rooney, those looking for football tips online may notice their odds lengthen, where they currently stand at 12/1. to be relegated.

Last season Sigurdsson covered more distance at 433 kilometres than any other Premier League player. When he does play on the right side of the front three, he will also drop back into the midfield and help his side when they do not have the ball.

 

Everton fans will hope it is only a matter of time before we start seeing Sigurdsson at his best again. A change in manager so early in the season will not have helped him settle and once he settles into the new manager’s system, he has to be given more freedom and trust to help his side win matches. The Iceland international is one of the best players in the Premier League from a dead-ball situation. With hopefully more opportunities from just outside the box, he can be a dangerous threat and we can expect to see to see more goals.

An early exit from the Europa League is a shame but it does mean the Toffees can concentrate on the Premier League, while they can have a shot at the FA Cup when they start the competition in January. It is not impossible for them to turn what has been a desperate start to the campaign into a positive one. More players could join in January, however, we can expect to see defensive cover added to the squad, as there is enough currently at the club to deliver going forward.