Nigeria winger Alex Iwobi put up a lively display on his Everton debut but the Toffees suffered their first defeat of the season losing 2-0 to Aston Villa on Friday night at the Villa Park, reports Completesports.com.
Iwobi took the place of Gyfil Sigurdsson in the 61st minute of the highly entertaining encounter.
The former Arsenal player came close to making a memorable debut but his well placed short inside the box hit the goal post eight minutes from time.
Iwobi also threaded a delightful pass for his fellow substitute, Moise Keane but Theo Walcott placed the Italian’s cross wide.
Brazilian forward, Wesley Moraes and Anwar El Ghazi scored both goals for Aston Villa in the 22nd and 90th minutes respectively.
Everton will host Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next league game.
By Adeboye Amosu
9 Comments
He had a very good game in the few minutes he spent on the field but luck wasn’t on his side otherwise he cud av cap his debut with a very good goal. Better luck next time and all the best in your time with Everton
Everton were so unfortunate! They ended up losing 2 nil a game they should have won. Iwobi should start the next game, based on today’s performance. The Everton attack came to life when he was subbed on. Additionally, for now, Calvert-Lewin should be on the bench for a simple reason….Moise Kean is much better than him! Silva should do himself and Everton a favor by starting Kean going forward. If Calvert-Lewin wants to start, then he must match Kean’s performance, at a minimum. Bernard on the left, Richarlison on the right, Kean leading the line with Iwobi behind him looks like the best formation for the Everton attack at the moment.
Iwobi should be burying the sort of half-chances that he had yesterday which almost found the back of the net.
Taking of such chances marks a world class player from a decent player.
Iwobi needs to be sharper in front of goal. His attributes as a hard working decent passer of the ball are well documented however, to rise to the next level, he needs to score more than he did at Arsenal – often with chances that he would ordinarily have no right to score.
Enough of praising Iwobi as a ‘decent player’. He has shown enough to suggest that more can come out of him.
The Super Eagles winger cum attacking midfielder has to start showing Arsenal fans and followers that they made a monumental mistake in letting him go at the time they did.
However, with such impressive outings devoid of end product like what we saw yesterday, many a Gunners fan will be like: ‘thank goodness he’s gone!’.
@Deo to hell with every such sucked up gunner. Iwobi need not play to impress some shit hole gunners. Iwobi is super talent which he clearly demonstrated yesterday. Scoring goals has this thing about it: Luck n span. When a player enters that span every of his intent to score results in a goal. When that span finishes, goals becomes difficult. I hate this idea of living to impress idiots or anyone. My motto is work hard, pray n give your very best just to satisfy yourself. Because you can never ever impress humans.
@deo what else cud he have done with those chances? absolutely nothing. There are some thing that beyond one power at times that no matter how you try if it wasn’t going to be it won’t. Please leave the poor guy alone rather simply wish him the best of luck next time.
Tayo.
Iwobi to me represents more than just an average player; I really don’t see why we should not be talking about him with the same breath that we talk about the likes of Mane, Salah and Aubameyang.
For that to happen, he needs to do more than just ‘try’; he needs to be pulling rabbits out of his hat after all, performing football magic runs in his family.
If you doing believe me, just ask his famous uncle…..
@ Deo my man. The three players you mentioned are strikers while Iwobi is a midfielder/ winger. Special grace go with different talent. Without any doubt Iwobi creates scoring chances more than these 3 while they score more than Iwobi. So Iwobi can’t be them while they will look lost trying to be Iwobi.Just no based for comparison.
@Glory
Though I share your view , in the fact that there is no basis for comparison between Iwobi and the aforementioned trio( Mane,Salah,Aubameyang), due to what you mentioned; but I don’t think Deo was trying to make that kind of comparison;as it relates to position.
If I could understand, I think he is trying to look at it from the “class angle “. He believes Iwobi should be in the same class as those three; hence his suggestion that Iwobi should thrive to take those chances that comes out of the blue,unexpected,magical . Which is understandable due to the potential we all know Iwobi possess.
But in my own view, I tend to agree with @tayo, in the sense that, Iwobi can’t do more than his ability. Yes ,he has the potential but we all know potential isn’t enough without the right mentality. Iwobi puts in the shift.He is hardworking. But hard work can’t beat class,cause class is all psychological. It is belief. you can pay for school but can’t buy class.
we can also look at it from another view; maybe,just maybe, Iwobi has reached peak, maybe we are expecting something from him that he can’t really deliver. He won’t be the first to fall under such category of “hopeful potential ” that never arrived ,even after much opportunity; Nani, Immobile, Walcott, Etc all comes to mind..
That said, I do believe in him; but I want him to discover himself by himself..
He should know what suits him best,..
I understand Deo point very well but many here may misconstrue the main point and start condemning Iwobi . Point of correction, Iwobi carries a huge talent that’s far from being hatched yet. It will surely get hatched. Iwobi might just be playing in a league that doesn’t suit his kind of football. Also what most people don’t understand is, a footballers game is a by product of his childhood football orientation. Some players orientate their game , while growing up on scoring, others on fancy skills n passing (Iwobi) , while others on stopping others scoring. All of these play a major factor in their professional carrier.