Late signings and injuries hamper Everton
1915
Everton were seen as one of the realistic contenders for a top-six spot in the Premier League this season. However, after Friday’s terrible display in a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa, the Toffees look anything but top-six contenders.
Two of the potential keys to their poor start could be late signings and injury problems. The Merseysider’s brought in Moise Kean, Djibril Sidibe and Alex Iwobi late in the transfer window. In fact, Iwobi joined in the final seconds of the summer transfer window.
None of the new players have had time to acclimatise themselves to their teammates or boss. If these players would have joined earlier then no doubt boss Marco Silva would not be attempting to break them into the team gradually.
Kean and Iwobi have looked lively and dangerous in their cameos so far. Such has been the lack of cutting edge from the Toffees this season they could realistically start in Sunday’s match against Wolves, assuming they do not pick up knocks in the Toffees midweek League Cup clash with Lincoln.
The other factor is injuries. The Toffees lost a highly influential player in Idrissa ‘Gana’ Gueye in the summer. The Merseysider’s brought in Ivorian midfielder Jean Philippe Gbamin from Mainz as his replacement.
Unfortunately, the midfielder has picked up a thigh injury in training that could keep him out of action for up to 12 weeks. The fact that fellow new signing Fabian Delph is also on the treatment table has only added to Everton’s central midfield anguish.
Delph is expected to return to training. The Toffees need the former Manchester City midfielder available again, as Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes was nothing short of woeful against Villa on Friday night.
Unfortunately for Everton, they could be set to experience another up and down campaign like last season. It will be a massive achievement if Silva’s team can make the top-six, even judging at this early stage of the season.
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