Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi was rated average for his performance in Sunday’s Meyserside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park.
The rating which was done by Sky Sports was for every players that featured for both teams.
And according to Sky Sports Iwobi who was in the starting eleven was rated five which was the lowest among Everton players.
Also Read: Arsenal Considering Move For Ex-Man City Keeper Hart After Leno Injury
And commenting on Iwobi’s performance Sky Sports wrote: “The 24-year-old didn’t see as much of the ball as he’d have liked in attacking areas.
“He showed good feet to beat James Milner in the first half, but he struggled to make an impact on the game out on the right flank.
“Was wide open on the penalty spot when Richarlison chose to shoot from a tight angle inside the final 10 minutes. Replaced with three minutes of normal time remaining.”
Sunday’s game was Iwobi’s 19th appearance with just one goal in the Premier League this season.
His other goal came in the Carabao Cup which takes his goals tally for the season to two in 23 appearances in all competitions.
Everton’s player ratings vs Liverpool:
Jordan Pickford – 6
Seamus Coleman – 8
Michael Keane – 7
Mason Holgate – 7
Lucas Digne – 6
Andre Gomes – 6
Tom Davies – 7
Anthony Gordon – 6
Alex Iwobi – 5
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 6
Richarlison – 7
By James Agberebi
13 Comments
Yesterday, your headline read: “EPL: Iwobi Stars In Everton’s Home Draw Against Liverpool”
This morning your headline is saying average”. Which is which, CS?
With wat i saw yesterday. Iwobi needs to convince me he still needed a place in 1st eleven of the eagles. I hope he is not fading.
Oh rohr is no nonsense man now
Iwobi was played out of position yesterday on the basis of that I will not judge him yet
@ Ndubuisi you truly watched that match. Just seem people have made their every day prayer, be that Iwobi should fail hence they ignore or refuse to holistically look at what happens on the pitch before making obnoxious rating which only exposes such persons as ones that never kicked a ball in their lives. There are loads of factors that can affect footballers performance on a day. Yesterday I saw an ultra defensive Everton team, where Iwobi was confined to playing really deep from d right, just to neutralise the threat from Mane, probably the manager needed him to do that because of his size n strength. Did it work? Very well it did but at Iwobis detriment. Iwobi is a pivotal player, reason he is performing in the SE as Rohr perfectly understand this but at club level, for some reasons, which will not be far club politics, Everton have kept using Iwobi as patch player in almost every department of the team except goal keeping and some will come out with some silly rating without asking if the player played in his familiar position. A player constantly playing in his familiar position will always perform as there is always the tendency to do things better the next time but being used as patch player does loads of evil to a player. Just whats taking the shine off Victor Moses talent too. My only blame to Iwobi is selling off his happiness to join Everton. I warned cos I saw it coming. Iwobis talent will blossom in a team that makes him the midfield pivot.
From a technical/ tactical point of view , Iwobi has really improved,more so in the like of Moses Simon, developing in his defensive side and all round play as team player.
Though such development is to the detriment of his attacking side of his game but I must say,I appreciate this disciplined Iwobi.
In respect to his short time in Everton, I wasn’t one that was excited for his move to Goodison; Iwobi’s style simply doesn’t fit with the ultra laid back disciplined style Everton are known for. Iwobi is more of a “free spirit” that thrives in open play. So I had my doubt about the marriage but I knew it was done out of desperation on the stance of Arsenal cashing in.
That said,I think Iwobi played quite well against Liverpool. Yes,he didn’t get on the ball as much as he should but enough positive on his positional play and defensive awareness which helped shut down the Liverpool attack down the wing (which is their obvious strength).
Iwobi’s discipline down the right heeded Coleman to be top of his game, giving Sheamus that much shelter for the wing back to focus on his man easily,thereby producing a top notch performance.
Besides, Iwobi played to the coach’s instruction , suiting in perfectly to Ancelotti much chiseled tactical formation , his favourite 4-4-2.
If we are all familiar with Ancelotti,we would know,this is how he sets up his team. And going from what Iwobi played yesterday, he is definitely going to be a vital player in Ancelotti’s squad.
We shouldn’t forget that Everton was playing against LIVERPOOL, a team that always has possession,a team that is highly fit and king of the pressing game. There was no how Everton would come out and play openly yesterday against Liverpool and not get beaten. So instead of getting on Iwobi’s back,we should be hailing his defensive exploit,for his tactical savviness and his discipline. There was a reason he played almost 90mins.
Everton wouldn’t always defend.there are many games to come and easier teams to play.then we get to see the other side of Iwobi. His attacking intent. I am sure of it, especially with a gaffer like Carlo.
Thumbs up @ Hush.Reading through your write-up tells of one of d few that truly understand the working of football matters. Always satisfying to read you broda man @ Hush. I saw a game yesterday which seemed like it was gonna take 24 hrs to finish. Hardly did a pass from the midfield of Everton got to Iwobi for the entire period he was in the game. Somehow, one is tempted to start believing there is a gang up against him which does happen in teams anyway, just to get rid of certain players. Hopefully it’s not but I never welcomed Everton for Iwobi. Arsenal football philosophy seemed perfect for Iwobis style. Then for teams outside, PSG, Bayern Munich, Dortmund etc. Definitely not any defense oriented teams for as you rightly/ intelligently pointed out, Iwobi enjoys a free spirit operation while on the pitch n not a controlled tactical style.
My appreciations @Glory
_ Iwobi’s Ratings vs Liverpool _
At the start of the season, I watched Everton’s first three matches and from what I saw of Iwobi (particularly in his debut against Aston Villa), I felt at the time that he would go on to have an underwhelming season (unless he improved).
That was not me thrashing Iwobi nor maliciously dragging his name into the mud nor undermining his contributions to the Super Eagles. It was just me analysing the football in front of me and making projections based on what I saw.
As it would happen, Iwobi himself as come out to agree with me that his own stats for Everton have been below par.
Injuries haven’t helped but we can’t actually say he was pulling down trees before he sustained his injury.
As I already noted in another post, I remain an admirer of Iwobi’s work ethics. I love his attitude, desire, determination, drive and passion for club and country. However, as noted by Lord AMO (and Iwobi himself in an interview with Daily Mail), we now need to see end products to those ‘endeavours’ at Merseyside.
Did we see that yesterday?
Rating Iwobi, Phil Kirkbride for Liverpool Echo wrote:’Alex Iwobi 4
Rusty. Given almost the full 90 but struggled badly to make any form of impact. ‘
Alex Pettle writing for The Independent opined: ‘Alex Iwobi – 5: Spent most of the first half pinned back by Milner, and failed to get forward much even after the Liverpool man’s departure.’ End.
From what I saw, I actually thought Iwobi was playing as a wing-back at some point as he was deep in his own half for the bulk of the game. But he remained focused and resolute and for me, helped his team to earn a hard fought draw against an invincible Liverpool outfit.
Which is why his best stats were actually in defence not attack.
Goal: 0
Assist: 0
Key passes: 0
Crosses: 0
Shots on target: 0
Shots off target: 0
However
Ground Duels (won) : 3(2)
Aerial Duels (won) : 1(1)
Clearances: 2
Interceptions: 1
Tackles: 1
Heat wave: it was very hot in the defensive side showing where he was most busy.
So, as the first aim of Everton was to avoid a defeat, I think Iwobi played to instructions in a solid but admittedly unspectacular display. I give him 5.5/10.
E bi like say sports journalist wey
never get work full this platform ooh. Well,I hail una ooh,the wey una the analyze this things no easy ohh,even past complete sports self.
Hopefully I will be at Norwich city on Wednesday night .
Good Everton will be playing away .on Wednesday.
Glory, there are elements of your analysis above that I actually agree with. But what I find funny is that it is those people who agree with your orientation that actually watched the match (very funny and a bit childish).
But you are right, Everton were ultra defensive which curtailed his attacking forays. Unlike you, I don’t think anyone is spending their time praying for Iwobi to fail. I think people have more better things to do with their lives than to be praying for a player’s failure, that is just a misguided statement in my humble opinion.
Now, about the “obnoxious ratings”, I guess it is easy to find the ratings annoying if they don’t reflect how you think your player played. Obnoxious is perception which can actually be subjective. I don’t find the ratings in the article above nor the ones I presented in my contributions obnoxious. I genuinely feel that, that is how the Writers perceived Iwobi’s performance.
They are entitled to their perception just like you. Your contribution is no less obnoxious to them than theirs is to you (if you understand what I mean).
You said the only position that Iwobi has not been used is in the goalkeeper department. A simple investigation will reveal that statement to be false.
All in all, I agreed with patches of your comment, well done.