When Djibril Sidibé arrived on loan from Monaco this summer, there were plenty of Everton fans delighted by the signing.
A World Cup winner who had starred in a Monaco side that assaulted the Champions League knockout stages in years gone by; he was the type of signing that caught the eye.
Not only were Everton getting a distinguished signing, but they were also adding substantial competition to a position in the squad that needed it.
His lack of playing time under Marco Silva at the beginning of this season, then, has created plenty of confusion.
Why was the Frenchman being overlooked in a team that isn’t performing? Why was he being snubbed when Seamus Coleman was not exactly setting the world alight?
Those are questions the player was seemingly asking too. Earlier this month it was reported he could leave the club in January, while Calcio Mercato later reported that he was unhappy at Goodison Park, with his lack of playing time causing him misery.
This was all reported because AC Milan are keen on trying to sign Sidibé in January. Indeed, they were interested because there was a sense it would be easier to get him than other targets, namely Tottenham’s Serge Aurier.
The implication in all this was that Everton and Sidibé were not proving to be a good match, and their short relationship should come to a swift end. That, though, would be a foolish decision for Everton to make.
First and foremost, it would leave them in a vulnerable position at right-back. The decision to let Jonjoe Kenny go out on loan to Schalke meant Seamus Coleman was the only recognised right-back in the squad before Sidibé’s arrival.
Unless there are plans to sign a long-term replacement for Coleman during the winter window, it makes little to no sense for Everton to create an issue where there is none by letting Sidibé end his loan spell.
Aside from that, the right-back hasn’t been given a proper chance at the club this season. Of course, Marco Silva sees more than the rest of the world and presumably his decision to start Coleman comes off of that, but there is plenty to like about Sidibé.
Primarily, he’s great going forward. That’s never been a problem for him. He’s not only quick and athletic, meaning he can get up and down the pitch, he’s also got an eye for a pass and can cross the ball as well. These are all attributes that suit Silva’s style of football, which utilises the full-backs heavily.
They are also attributes which Coleman does not possess. The Irishman is by no means a bad player but his attacking qualities, particularly his crossing, leave a lot to be desired, although this has often been masked by his ability to bag goals at the other end of the pitch.
Sidibé though, is a better all-round attacking asset, particularly because he can vary things up with his passing and carry the ball forward more comfortably than his teammate.
All of this was evident in last weekend’s victory over West Ham United, a game in which Sidibé’s performance caught the eye for numerous reasons, but primarily because of his attacking output.
The Frenchman not only enjoyed the third-most touches in the game, but he also failed to lose it throughout the game. Only Lucas Digne matched his overall possession percentage.
In terms of passing, only André Gomes’ tally of 46 bettered Sidibé’s 44 for Everton, while the Portuguese midfielder only topped his accurate pass total by three. The Frenchman was also unlucky not to get an assist for a sublime outside of the boot pass that set Alex Iwobi through on goal in the 76th minute.
It was an impressive display of forward-thinking football, with only nine of his passes coming in Everton’s half and 35 of his 55 total being forward balls. Not that his defensive game lacked either, with him registering more tackles and winning more tackles than any other player in the game. Proof that he may not be as defensively weak as some believe him to be.
Granted it was against a weak West Ham side that offered little going in either direction, but it was a demonstration of what the 27-year-old offers and how that can benefit Everton moving forward. It was also a show of why, if Everton are to build on that win, keeping him in the side ahead of Coleman would be a smart move.
To do that they’ll have to ensure he’s not heading back to Monaco in January which, if it’s allowed to happen, would not only be short-sighted but foolish and a waste of a player who could prove to be one of the Blues better pieces of business this season.
