The Senegal international has been used in both wide positions this season instead of his natural no. 10 berth
After all the talk, all the online debate and all the questions put to Sean Dyche in his press conferences, Iliman Ndiaye was finally shifted off the left wing in Everton’s last match. Onto the right.
The clamour has been building for the Senegal international to start as the second striker or number 10 in recent weeks.
Before making his move to the Blues, it was assumed that one of the main reasons for his problems at Marseille were due to the fact he was shunted out wide. So there were naturally some initial concerns when Ndiaye started his first Premier League game for the club on the left.
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After a dazzling performance in the 3-2 loss to Bournemouth, those concerns were temporarily shelved. But as Ndiaye’s influence has dwindled and Everton’s attacking prowess has faded, questions on how to get the best of the club’s £15million summer signing have started to resurface.
In one recent press conference, Dyche caused a stir with his assessment of Ndiaye as a footballer.
“Currently, he’s doing well coming off the left,” he said in November. “People keep telling me I should be playing him in the Number 10 [position] but there’s no evidence to suggest that he should be playing as a Number 10. People keep telling me my role as a manager, as they do.
“I think he can adapt to play there but the modern Number 10, you have to defend from there as well. You see Dwight McNeil doing very well on the defensive side.”
Since sharing what felt like strong opinions on the matter, Dyche has actually gradually moved away from them.
In the second half of the 0-0 draw with Brentford, Ndiaye was used in a central role and off the right. Then, after reverting back to the McNeil central and Ndiaye wide plan for the 4-0 loss to Manchester United, for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers there was a significant tactical revamp.
It meant McNeil moved to the left and Abdoulaye Doucoure was pushed forward to support Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
It was a shift that seemed to work. Of course, Everton will encounter stronger foes than Wolves in the coming weeks, but the tweak rekindled memories of the version of the Blues that finished last season so well.
There was still a lot to be desired in terms of creativity in open play, but out of possession and in terms of pressing the team looked much more effective.
But Ndiaye, out on the right flank, it didn’t feel like a natural fit. Unsurprisingly the Senegal international did his bit off the ball and was always looking to receive possession. But his natural inclination to cut inside and drive towards goal felt ill-suited for a right-footed player on the right wing.
In the short term at least, that might not bring the best out of a player supporters have loved to watch so far this season.
But it does get Doucoure – Dyche has still not won a game without the midfielder in his starting XI – in his best position. It does get McNeil back on to the left flank to get crosses into the box and support the struggling Vitalii Mykolenko. It also gets Orel Mangala, arguably Everton’s best midfielder this season, into the team alongside the dependable Idrissa Gueye.
Reverting back to this setup is a pragmatic move, of course. But Everton are what they are under Dyche. They will not be a team that plays expansive patterns or cute balls into attackers who can spin on the half turn.
They will knock it long, they will battle to win it back and they’ll try to pinch a goal from a set-piece or two.
In the long-term, it is not where any supporter wants the club to be. They will want teams to be built around effervescent talents like Ndiaye who have the ingenuity to break open a game. The Friedkin Group will also surely have grander ambitions when their takeover goes through.
But for Everton to pick up points and wins under Dyche? A tactical step back might just be the best way to stutter forward, even if it means keeping one of their brightest stars boxed in. For now.
