Sky Sports pundit demands Everton improve in attack with Idrissa Gueye place in question
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Idrissa Gueye is “instrumental” in the defensive shape of Everton but could be under threat for Leicester as attacking improvement is needed, believes Kevin Campbell.
The Toffees defence, with James Tarkowski and Conor Coady at the heart in front of Jordan Pickford, had another good game in the goalless draw with Fulham on (29 October), adding another clean sheet.
But Sky Sports pundit Campbell was very unimpressed with Everton going forward at Craven Cottage and is aware that the Senegal international is one who tends to be sacrificed to try to remedy that.
“Yeah I think Frank Lampard’s actually managing it well,” he said of the squad, speaking exclusively to Goodison News.
“Second half Everton were so lacklustre offensively. Defensively they were good, they defended very well, the two at the back are like a rock aren’t they?
“Idrissa Gana Gueye is instrumental in that defensive shape but as an offensive threat… they just carried nothing.
“So [James] Garner has to come on, Dwight McNeil has to come on to try and get that going. I know it’s difficult for them because they’ve been on the bench, but Everton have to show more.
“They’re better than that.”
Since making his debut against former side Manchester United on 9 October Garner has been introduced off the bench in every Premier League game.
While it is hard to argue with the defensive steel added by Gueye against stronger sides, despite a few mistakes in recent weeks, there is a case that the more offensively-minded youngster would be more suitable against teams likely to sit back.
Everton struggled mightily to get much going in attack against Fulham and had to settle for a point thanks in large part to Pickford, so for the home game against struggling Leicester on Saturday (5 November) the two could swap and see Garner make a first start, as Campbell has previously predicted him to play himself into the line-up.