Idrissa Gana Gueye astonishes Everton teammate Andros Townsend after what he did in World Cup showdown for Senegal
Andros Townsend’s role as a co-commentator for ITV at the World Cup has seen him wax lyrical about one of his Everton teammates.
With Senegal’s crunch match with Ecuador at 0-0, Toffees midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye was deployed in an effective attacking midfield role rather than his usual holding role in any team he plays for.
Townsend was amazed at what he was watching in the winner-takes-all clash having never seen the 33-year-old be so advanced during his second spell at Goodison Park.
“I’ve never seen him do it (play as an attacking midfielder) during his second spell at Everton but he’s doing very well,” Townsend said on commentary [ITV4, 29 November, 03:18pm].
“He’s running in behind and causing havoc, now he’s won his side an unbelievable corner through pure willingness and that’s something he has always possessed. That aggression to make things happen for his team and never give up.”
New role
Frank Lampard might not have any keen interest in trying Gueye out in the same role as his national team manager has been but the fact that such an option is there will be encouraging.
Everton could continue to play Gueye alongside Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi as they have been but if they all rotate who is pushing on beyond the striker it will become very difficult to defend.
Townsend is in a position to give his manager a first-hand account of how effective he is at the role having been able to watch from high above the pitch in Qatar.
The midfield balance has been one of the few plus points for Lampard so far this season, though, and that may well mean he is unwilling to experiment too much unless things become desperate.
Some fans, meanwhile, may say it has already reached that stage with the Toffees only one place above the drop zone with a crucial festive and January period on the horizon once the World Cup is over.