GYLFI WINS GULF WAR
Warnock bows to Sig’s class
NOW, finally, there is a Silva lining for Gylfi Sigurdsson to the heavy clouds he endured under Sam Allardyce at Everton.
The £45million record Goodison signing was a misfit in his first season with the Blues, a creative player forced to perform a workmanlike role under a workmanlike regime with depressing results.
But since the arrival at the club of Marco Silva (below) in the summer, he – along with the rest of the team – has flourished.
And the dividends were there to see as he proved the difference in a tense victory over Cardiff.
Sigurdsson provided all the best attacking moments for Everton – and what proved to be the winner, when he burst into the box to gleefully convert after visiting keeper Neil Etheridge had brilliantly saved from Theo Walcott.
A return of six goals in his last nine games is impressive enough from Sigurdsson.
More importantly, the Iceland star is beginning to exert a creative control on games for Everton.
He was that touch of class which a hardworking Cardiff side could only marvel at, and little wonder. He cost a fee the South Wales club can only dream about.
Their record signing is still Gary Medel at £11m from the last time they were in the Premier League, and it is a gulf boss Warnock (inset) accepts his club can not bridge.
He said: “That’s where we let ourselves down really, that ability that quality in the final third, that’s the difference with the top teams.
“Everton had that, for example they paid £40m for a striker and £45m for a midfield player here.”
Sigurdsson’s recent contribution suggests it is money well spent – he has now been involved in more goals than any other Everton player in the past 12 months, and is the creative flourish in a midfield ably conducted by Andre Gomes behind him.
Yet there was a time not so long ago when the Iceland skipper had to face serious questions about his value – about his ability to keep a place in the Everton side, with the fans turning against him.
He suffered though, under the previous regime, Allardyce’s utilitarian regime no environment for a player like him to flourish, especially when he was so often pushed out onto the left side as an expensive spare part.
Under Silva, he has flourished, and it is no surprise. For a start, he is played in his best position, as a hardworking No.10 with the side channelling the ball through him to create chances he often finishes himself. Silva said: “He is understanding better now what I want, the moves he has to do, what positions and spaces on the pitch he has to receive the ball. “He’s a very good player with a lot of quality who can arrive well in the box, like I like. And Gylfi is a fantastic professional to work with.
“He gives 100 per cent on the training ground and it is easy to understand how he can work as well during the match.”
For Warnock, it was encouraging but he needs reinforcements if Cardiff are to stay up.
He said: “We are going to have to do some shopping in January – today is the best we can do and I think to stay up we need that bit more quality.”