Rio Ferdinand: Alex Iwobi is ‘back from the dead’ at Everton
Rio Ferdinand has been singing the praises of Alex Iwobi after the season he has been having for Everton culminated in a screamer against Manchester United.
The Nigerian midfielder has become one of the first names on the teamsheet at Goodison Park in midfield, with his performances under Frank Lampard earning him a starting spot in his preferred position on the pitch.
And after his wonderful curling effort helped Everton take the lead before they were ultimately beaten by Man United on Sunday night, Ferdinand told “Vibe with Five” [10 October] that only one person has had a bigger rebuild than Iwobi.
“What a strike,” he said. “After Xhaka probably, whose come back from the dead, he’s had the biggest sort of rebuild.”
Iwobi has started every Premier League game this season, registering one goal and three assists to help the Toffees into 12th place after nine games.
Brilliant
Iwobi was bought for big money from Arsenal a few years ago and until the last nine months or so it looked like money down the drain.
He was shunted out to the wing because of his dribbling ability and with his final ball questionable a lot of the time, he suffered because his numbers weren’t good enough and he was regularly left out of the team.
But Lampard has seen the dynamism in his game and his ability to retain possession and built the midfield around those qualities, which are complimented perfectly by summer signings Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye.
Now Iwobi is one of the most important players in the team and one of the most popular with the fans in the stands, and that has seen him enter into talks over a new deal.
We hope he stays for a long time and with his performances at the level they are currently at, it’s only right that he gets the praise he deserves from pundits and ex-pros.