Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi was not included in Everton’s squad as they opened the 2020/2021 Premier League season with a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Completesports.com reports.
It was the first time Spurs manager Jose Mourinho has lost on the opening matchday of a league season in his managerial career.
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti gave his three summer signings James Rodriguez, Allan and Abdoulaye their debut.
Also Read: Eredivisie: Okoye Benched As Sparta Rotterdam Lose At Home To 10-Man Ajax
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the only goal of the game in the second half.
Everton had the first big chance of the game in the 16th through Richarlison who latched on to a loose cross-field pass, rounded Hugo Lloris but somehow missed the target from the angle.
Spurs waited until the 33rd minute for their first good opportunity as they countered well from a corner, with Heung-Min Son feeding Dele Alli who forced Jordan Pickford into a good save.
With three minutes left in the first half Pickford once again denied Spurs following excellent link-up play in the area between Harry Kane and Matt Doherty.
Ten minutes into the second Everton scored thanks to Calvert-Lewin who rose highest to meet Lucas Digne’s sensational cross.
Everton went close on numerous occasions but Richarlison was guilty of wasting good chances.
Spurs poured forward to salvage something but could not find a way past the Everton backline.
The win saw Everton climb to fifth position while Spurs are 17th.
By James Agberebi
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COMMENTS
Tick tock Iwobi…
So what happened to Iwobi. Injury or loss of form.
Haba iwobi, we cant tolerate this bench role at all almost like iheanacho case, mbanu! Tufiakua!!! You are too important to us(supereagles) please as the window still allows you please get a lone move to fulham or westbrom lastlast rangers is also not bad, infact iwobi’s agent should wake up quick quick the handwriting is clear. no need for shirt dragging in a team that doesnt believe in you anymore. Please move for the sake of eagles and ur fans. Its better to play regularly for the underdog team( just as jayjay did with Bolton) than coming off bench or rather out of the team match day. I will recommed you and iheanacho to go to fulham on loan to join aina and unoma it will rebuild their confidence and create a bond betwin them as the four of them still represents Naija.
Bench you say? Dude was not even in the match day squad. It is pitiful to be recommending Iwobi to relegation threatening teams. The signs have been there if truth be told that this gringo was on a downward spiral.
On current form, I doubt whether Iwobi will even tie down a shirt in Fulhams of this world.
We can’t because of patriotism lie to ourselves. Iwobi needs to pick himself up fast or else he will either end up on the bench or in the English Championship. A word is enough for the wise.
Please loud the mic bros, they will not accept your opinion. Will not be surprised if he is invited for the friendlies. Because he plays in a top league. But yet those playing in other leagues and featuring week in week out will not be considered for a position in the national team
Iwobi a gringo? Can you imagine how nonplussed a hispanic visitor to CSN would be after reading this comment where a Nigerian calls a fellow Nigerian a gringo?
Lol, gringo is a term hispanic people, especially Mexicans, use to refer to white people. Iwobi is not white, and you’re are likely not hispanic. So what the heck? I laugh in Hindustan 🙂 🙂 🙂
To illustrate, a Nigerian calling another Nigerian a gringo is like an Englishman calling another Englishman who has no Hausa roots whatsoever an “aboki”. Even if it was intended as a joke, it would be in poor taste. Just the same as calling a non-Igbo Englishman an “okoro”, or a non-Yoruba Englishman “ngbati ngbati”.
Enough said.
Iwobi will always remain a fav player. Alexander the king Iwobi, wherever you are, your talent is latent, not a pinch of doubt about. Your only mistake is ever choosing to pitch tent with such below average team like Everton. You should have stayed back at Arsenal or move to other leagues. Definitely not Everton, the sound of it resonating boredom/dryness. Good advice as stated by @ Collins Id, is immediately seek a move away from that dead end, even if it’s just to get regular game time, wherein you will be able to display your wares to move to where you truly belong. God bless Alex Iwobi, ever proud of you man.
I don’t think there is cause for alarm at this stage for Alex Iwobi. He has not been playing or even listed in the team’s friendly games prior to the league opener for Everton today.
I suspect he has an injury or some personal issue to sort out
However one thing is very clear;he needs to up his game.
Everton lacks squad depth and the signing of new players that featured today is a sign in the right direction.
Best of luck Alex…come back stronger and more determined
This are the people that hailed and hailed him to this stage that he can’t even string two successful passes together. Patriotism or love for a player shouldn’t make you blind to pure truth. Instead of us all to agree to a Clear fact someone is still shouting “Alexander the Great”…So bad. Same way some are still shouting “Sai Baba till 2023” even though the Country is now a mess. Nigeria..who do us like this??
The Truth now ehn, Iwobi can’t even tie down a regular shirt at West Brom or Fulham. He can only start games in the Championship and I’ll advise he move to the Championship ASAP. He will have the opportunity to build himself up there and become the Nutmeg king we once knew back in 2016. Now that’s genuine love for a player.
@Eno David, Iwobi featured in the pre-season Friendlies for your info. He is not injured. He was only drop out of the squad because there are others better than him.
I don’t waste time with people like you anymore. You lack football sense, hence you may never understand that pivotal players will appear struggling when you deny them that pivot role in the team. Iwobi stopped performing when managers started moving him away from being the focal point in the midfield region, either out wide or middle. Now at Everton,it’s so laughable your know it all brain, expect him to perform now hes been made to play deep in defence ehn?. People like you are what I will always describe as shallow minded fare weather supporters. At a time Balogun needed support, people like you joined the band wagon of castigation, only to come back giving lip praises now he his performing. If my continuous support/ praise for Iwobi hurts you, pls find the nearest live transformer and romance it to high heaven. ALEXANDER THE KING IWOBI REMAINS MY SUPER FAV.
It is said that “Only fools doubt proofs”. Fools argue without fact – blindly. Just in case you don’t know, Iwobi was played in the CMF, AMF(No.10), Winger, Wing Midfielder role and in a Twin Striking position with Richarlson last season both under Coach Silva and Ancelloti. In all, he was barely average. His goal return, poor. So one lie countered @Glory that he is not played in a preferred position. He stars in the No 10 role sometimes for Nigeria and yet he was played in same role for Everton and performed badly. Go to any Everton Official Social media handles and scroll to posts regarding there matches last season and read comments made about Iwobi and come back here and tell me if you won’t even be ashamed of yourself spitting this trash. Little 18 year old Gordons was played with Iwobi as Wing Midfielders post Covid-19 break last season and that little boy was throwing lots of flashes up front and our Iwobi was busy sitting in the Defense in the name of “am following Coach instructions”. Anytime he steps up with the ball, that’s worst. Either he’s easily dispossessed or doesn’t know what to do with the ball.
Someone posited below “No point being patriotic to the point of stupidity.”@Igbekun Abo. Ex-International Udeze and Victor Ikepba now has come out to say absolutely same thing we are saying about Iwobi. Does that mean they don’t love him or “lack football sense” as well Oga Glory wey get football sense??? I think if they are to weigh who loves Iwobi most between the two of us, you won’t even come close to me at all. At some point at Arsenal, I can kill for him..lol. So Mr Man if they are looking for Weather fans and people that lack football sense here, you should chair them because closing your eyes to the Pure truth about Iwobi now is the real “Unpatriotism”.
Well, Iwobi has the chance to redeem himself again tomorrow in the Carabao Cup where Fringe players are tried. Let’s see if he can make the Starting 11 or bench or even the Match day again tomorrow against LOWLY SALFORD.
@ Glory, when you say Iwobi mistake was choosing a below average team like Everton, how would you expect a player who struggle to maintain form for a below average team as you say it would show class or even play for 15mins in a world class team like Liverpool, Man City. Truth be told Everton was good for him but he need to work harder and up his game. Iwobi last season was a disaster.
Monkey no fine but him mama like am. There is nothing wrong in still seeing an underperforming player as always fav. There is nothing wrong in praying for an underperforming player. But it still doesn’t change the fact that the player is underperforming. Look at the way they are singing Saka’s praises into high heavens at Arsenal, this is the same Arsenal people that pushed Iwobi out. Everton is a decent club where he should have the platform to express himself yet he can neither provide meaningful asssists nor score goals to save his ass. Dude was seen as surplus to requirements at Arsenal now he is being seen as surplus to requirements in Everton’s match day squad and we are here expecting him to go to Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich etc. If Iwobi on current form should go to Leicester, Leeds or Wolverhampton, na bench e go chop, that is how bad things have become. God bless Iwobi….. God bless everyone but Iwobi’s form is currently very poor and you can take that to the bank. I read another thread where Iwobi fan number one Collins id excluded Iwobi from his Super Eagles squad because of poor form. If Internet fans are starting to see that Iwobi’s form is worrying, do you think Gernot Rohr is blind, deaf and dumb? Only a lunatic will not be aware that good performance in club football is required for national team invitation. We are here saying he chased money to Everton, is it sand that he should chase? Is it sand that Osimhen chased to Napoli? If we like we can idolise underperforming players but it doesn’t make them superstars in the eyes of those who reason with their brains.
@ Sir Phil, play David Silva,debruyne,pogba etc,in the deep and I can assure you they will come out useless. Reason? these are creative talents, whose motivation to play football is founded on that creative valve. Denying them that opportunity, means you are gradually killing their football. Just what is happening to Iwobi and I am very sure that may just be why he was not on the bench, as he may have refused being played out of position. Have you people ever asked why he performs for the SE as against for his club? He performs for SE because Rohr plays him as the pivot man in the midfield.
@Glory to be Plain and Simple, at the rate Iwobi is going, With Kelechi Nwakali starting to up his game and his undoubted class and, if we get Eze which I believe we will then, we will not need Iwobi. already with Nwakali in the fray we won’t need Iwobi so I am not bothered if Iwobi likes he must up his game if likes he shouldn’t he is only hurting his career. Super Eagle should only be for players who can fight for their places at clubs with world class players.
Nigeria in my eyes is a World class footballing nation and should not be inviting players who can not cut it at clubs like Everton. and make the match day squad talkless of Bench
#ENOUGHWITHMEDIOCREMINDSONTHISFORUM
@Glory If you watch Paul Pogba play you will see that he performs better when he is giving free Midfield roam including sitting deep when it is needed if the other team is paying a high pressing game hence, Bruno Fernandes and Paul fit so well together because, Bruno Fernandes Presence allows Paul Pogba to sit deep more often if need be due to his excellence at sitting deep. Point being a quality player should have at least 2 or four positions he can fit into if need be. I.E Bruno can play CAM, CM, or CWM. Paul can play CM, CAM and CDM. etc. the only time Paul struggled was when Jose Mourinho tried to play him LM.
@Glory Iwobi is distracted with Instagram and Fun life he is not focused on the game. The Glamour life of the game is clouding his focus we saw it with Kelechi Iheanacho. Alex needs to up his game. and if he is really meant to be a Premier League player then he must prove it and Fight for his place at Everton because if he can’t make it at Everton he will not make it at any other Premier League club the next step will then be championship football for Iwobi. Nigerians Calling for Iwobi to leave Everton and seek playing time elsewhere are basically saying he should loose his Fight mentality in that case Super Eagles Don’t need players without Fight mentality.
#ENOUGHWITHMEDIOCREMINDSONTHISFORUM
Guy Na you get sense. No need to beat about the Bush. Iwobi is distracted. His performance last season was very poor. Let’s hope he turns things around. No point being patriotic to the point of stupidity.
Gbam! @GLORY come o. Like “we” that lack football sense are now plenty..lol
Well said Ugo
Just like what Leicester want to start doing to ndidi, they are praising him for fine defensive display now very soon they will start judging him base on his play at the defence forgetting that is not his right position. So Leicester don’t have a defender in the second team to be call upon and allow this guy to continue with his midfield role.
… Our boys naim them sabi push go play multiple positions. Small time they will say Ndidi is a better defender than midfielder.
To be honest, why not being unappreciative of the contributions of iwobi to the super eagles, I would like to say that his overall game hasnt improved much.
You only need to look at players such as Eze an co to see why iwobi isnt in demand anymore. He needs to stop playing football like an academy player and start playing like a professional. Improve yourself iwobi. Iheanacho did it at Leicester last season and the coach was forced to play him. Do the same and you will be reinstated. Otherwise, your place in everton will not be the only shirt you will lose. Remember, coach rohr dropped iheanacho for osimhen in the last Afcon, he can drop iwobi if he sees another promising player who is playing regularly.
I wish you the best. Stay strong
Thanks man. No one is disputing Iwobi’s contribution in the Super Eagles. But the truth is He is so bad since last season and if he doesn’t improve himself till tomorrow, we have no choice but to look for someone better and allow him to go and think whether he still wants to make a name for himself in Football or he wants to focus on Flashy/Social life
@Chairmanfemi, I always like your very robust and articulated great analysis just as your sublime submissions on Iwobi were also on point .
However I will advise never again you go low to the level of Evan terrible Fani Fakayode way , Agreed , @ Glory initial disgusting foul response to your comment was awful but your initial reaction to him too “fo… is not but 2 bad ! 2 wrongs don’t make a right , we are mature and civilized football fans for goodness sake and not motor parks touts .
Back to Iwobi , for Arsenal a top rated team in Premirshio to offload him last year to an average club as Everton clubs says much deep in the form of Iwobi ; though I am not surprised as it is not a new trend, most of Nigerians players of this era in particular don’t know how to manage average success and Nigerians supporters back home also help either to destroy their career or made them to be underachievers by supporting them blindly rather than criticizing them to beat them to line before it is too late
I just hope Iwobi will raise his game before it is too late
Thanks @De Star. Your correction is well Noted. I’m even tired of the GLORY guy. So I’m over with him.