Player Focus: Deulofeu Proving he Warrants Regular Everton Starting Berth
It was a ball that could be considered precise enough to split any defence. While a 6-2 thumping of a disappointing Sunderland side is hardly a clear indicator as to whether a team or player is at their best, Gerard Deulofeu’s pass for Romelu Lukaku’s only goal of the game at Goodison Park was as inch perfect as they come. The assist came just five minutes after his cross forced Sebastian Coates to turn into his own net after Deulofeu put the ball into the - for want of a better term - corridor of uncertainty.
The Spaniard’s cross was one that any centre-back hates to defend against and it’s fair to say that had Coates not intervened, Lukaku would have netted past Costel Pantilimon from close range. Either way, the goal was a result of Deulofeu’s impressive vision and creative ability. As one might expect, he gained a commendable WhoScored rating of 7.79 against the Black Cats in what has been respectable return to Goodison Park.
Having spent the 2013/14 season on loan with the Toffees, many expected the youngster to return to Everton the following campaign, only to join Sevilla instead. However, Deulofeu struggled to establish himself under Unai Emery, making only 10 league starts last term before signing for Roberto Martinez’s side permanently over the summer. In such a short space of time, he has quickly re-endeared himself to the Everton faithful, with his WhoScored rating from starts alone (7.35) the fourth best of all players at the club using the same parameters.
A total of four league assists has contributed to this, a return bettered only by Mesut Özil (9), David Silva (6), Wes Hoolahan and Riyad Mahrez (both 5). The skilful wideman is one of the harder players to halt when he gains a head of steam and he’s utilising this to create for his teammates, most notably Lukaku. Three of Deulofeu’s four assists have been for a Lukaku goal. Only Mesut Özil to Olivier Giroud and Lukaku to Arouna Koné (both 4 goals) has been more profitable combinations in the Premier League this season.
Only Ross Barkley (every 33 minutes) is averaging a successful dribble more frequently than Deulofeu (39.8 minutes) of all Everton players in England’s top tier this term, accentuating his WhoScored strength of ‘dribbling’. Given Martinez has used no fewer than five different players on the right wing in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation this season, Deulofeu is making a strong case to be considered the Toffees’ regular right winger, particularly after such a fine outing against Sunderland.
After a number of seasons with which he has fluttered with regular first team football, this campaign could prove to be the one where the penny finally drops, especially as he continues to flourish with a striker of Lukaku’s quality in attack. The Belgian is back to firing on all cylinders after a well-earned rest - last year’s World Cup certainly exhausted the 22-year-old, who struggled to replicate his best form on Merseyside.
It’s no coincidence that Lukaku looks back to his best with a player of Deulofeu’s quality in the attack. The Spaniard is averaging a key pass every 35.8 minutes in the Premier League this season, the best of all Everton players and one of the better returns in England’s top tier. His vision in the final third is a benefit to a player of Lukaku’s ilk, who thrives on early balls being pumped into the box for him to net. Given three of his six goals have been assisted by Deulofeu, the relationship forming between the pairing is a boost to Everton and their quest to secure a European berth.
It’s now down to Martinez to allow the two players to form a hugely efficient partnership in attack, which is beginning to prove hugely beneficial for the team. The Everton boss has routinely failed to settle on a consistent winger in the past, much to the detriment of the side. However, now that he appears to have stumbled on a match-winning relationship between the two young attackers, it’s crucial Martinez hands them ample playing time to continue their development.
Of course, to hold down a regular starting berth, Deulofeu must up his game in order to realise his potential. His lack of defensive work is a concern, with the former Barcelona star averaging just 0.6 tackles and 0.3 interceptions per game and could well have cost Everton against Sunderland on Sunday on two occasions as he failed to track Patrick van Aanholt, while his pass success rate (79.8%) suggests passing is an area of improvement. While this could be down to Deulofeu attempting to be more adventurous in and around the opposition penalty box, his poor work off the ball would only invite pressure upon the Everton defence.
Against teams battling to stave off relegation, this isn’t too much of a worry, but against the bigger and better teams; Everton could be caught short at the back. Nevertheless, it’s clear, though, that his partnership with Lukaku on the right can be Everton’s best route to goal this season and Martinez needs to give the players sufficient playing time in order to build up a rapport that will help the Toffees return to Europe, a very real possibility if Deulofeu can continue his commendable form thus far.
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