Lyndon Lloyd 21/11/2024 6comments  |  Jump to last

Iliman Ndiaye looks set to continue in his role playing wide on the left for Everton after Sean Dyche expressed his belief that that is the best position for the Senegal international.

Ndiaye has been a revelation since arriving from Marseille in a £17m deal over the summer but there were many observers who felt that a big factor behind his struggles to make an impact in Ligue 1 was the fact that he was consistently deployed out wide when his skills appear more suited to playing behind the striker.

There have been calls from many quarters now that he is at Everton for Dyche to either deploy Ndiaye as a No 10 or, at the very least, rotate him with Dwight McNeil during matches, but the manager appears convinced that operating on the left flank is the best way for the former Sheffield United star to impact games.

“Currently, he’s doing well coming off the left,” Dyche said of the 24-year-old who has scored three goals in all competitions so far this season. “People keep telling me I should be playing him in the Number 10 [position] but there’s no evidence to suggest that he should be playing as a Number 10. People keep telling me my role as a manager, as they do.

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“I think he can adapt to play there but the modern Number 10, you have to defend from there as well. You see Dwight McNeil doing very well on the defensive side.

“It’s not as easy as people think, getting in the right passing lane, stopping the opposition and then, on the turnover and transition in play, attacking in the right format and learning how to do that consistently over 90, 95 minutes.

“So that can be developed over time but, at the moment, I think he’s doing a good job coming off the left. He can wriggle, he can affect [the play], and he can drive into the box and I think he’s doing well with that.

“I think he’s still young in his Premier League learning, that’s for sure, and he’s still adapting, so we’re letting him go a little bit whilst coaching him as well.”

 

Reader Comments (6)

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Peter Mills
1 Posted 21/11/2024 at 21:34:36
At the risk of being rebuked by the Eds for repetition, I can introduce our manager to two Sheffield Utd supporters who would testify that Iliman can play the No. 10 role extremely well.
Robert Brownlow
2 Posted 21/11/2024 at 21:57:35
I don't understand why the number 10 needs to defend? With the setup Dyche plays there are 4 defenders and 2 defensive midfielders. 6 players should be enough. We'd be better off allowing our attacking players to attack.
Paul Hewitt
3 Posted 21/11/2024 at 21:59:14
The fact he's player the majority of his games as a number 10, and Dyche doesn't know this, is the reason Dyche needs sacking
Dale Self
4 Posted 21/11/2024 at 22:21:21
Without players to give and go passes or run off what would surely be double coverage, NDiaye would be running back toward the ball to receive it. With our current lineup, he is best used as an out man in our half and cutting into the 10 space from the wing.
Derek Knox
5 Posted 21/11/2024 at 23:22:00
He is proving to be a total Neanderthal again when it comes to playing individuals with proven ability in certain positions. Is he that stubbornly arrogant ?

I actually believe, although limited we have a few decent players in the squad, but he refuses to either play them together, or play them in their 'best position'. The sooner this takeover is complete the better.

Apologies to any Neanderthals who may have been offended by this post !

Gavin Johnson
6 Posted 22/11/2024 at 00:14:32
I, and plenty of others have seen the evidence. Ndiaye works very hard off the ball, so the idea that he can't press high up the pitch and defend like McNeil is ridiculous.

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