Iliman Ndiaye gets Robinho comparison after what happened in Everton v Bournemouth
Michael Ball believes Iliman Ndiaye’s performance was one of the only positives as Everton collapsed during a 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday (31 August).
Despite being unable to get on the scoresheet, the new signing was a shining light as the Toffees took a 2-0 lead against the Cherries at Goodison Park.
Just four minutes after being hooked by Sean Dyche, Antoine Semenyo scored, what looked to be, a consolation goal before Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra completed a disastrous comeback.
Writing for the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday (3 September), Ball said: “Everton have to try and take some positives from the game against Bournemouth and Iliman Ndiaye looks an exciting signing as he gets fans off their seats with his unpredictability.
“Ndiaye has brought something that we’ve been totally lacking for many years, and I think that was one of the best individual performances I’ve seen at Goodison Park for a long, long time.
“I remember Robinho coming into Manchester City and he got everyone excited, and his signing raised everyone else’s game. We all thought, ‘I want to play football with this guy, help him achieve greatness and I want to be a part of it and show that I’m a good footballer too.’
“As a new player, you’re champing at the bit to show what you’re all about, and we saw that from Ndiaye’s first Premier League start. There’s the level for everybody.”
Iliman Ndiaye transfer spot on at Everton
Ndiaye’s £15million move to Merseyside this summer was greeted with a lot of excitement [BBC Sport], mostly because Dyche was able to add more attacking threat to his starting XI.
Despite a disappointing spell with Marseille in Ligue 1, the 24-year-old is already rather well-known in England after two seasons with Sheffield United, where he scored 22 goals in 88 appearances.
Ndiaye has already brought some of that spark to Goodison Park, and while he has only netted in the 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup, he looks to be a smart purchase.
Of course, fans are disappointed, and widely focused, on the collapse against Bournemouth last weekend, but now is the time for everybody to stick together and get behind the team.
Dyche’s side have been unable to get points on the board yet, losing to Brighton, Tottenham and the Cherries, but there is plenty of time to make things right and secure Premier League safety again.
In other Everton news, Graeme Souness and Simon Jordan were in agreement over a new Sean Dyche sack verdict.
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