I'd imagine, like Barry before him he's probably the sort of player you appreciate more when you see him most weeks and know the impact he has around the club. You probably hate him (many Evertonians aren't too keen) but Phil Neville was a bit like that. Couldn't stick him when he was at United but led the dressing room here and enforced good habits.
Gareth Barry was written off when he came here. I thought he was one paced and actually not at the level Delph is currently at, but he was one of the most important signings we made in the last 5 years.
It's not a glamorous signing by any stretch but to me it's low risk. He knows the league, he knows the area, won't have to relocate his family, knows what it takes to play for a big club (having played for 3 previously) and is a northern lad. Very low risk and a smart signing really.