Opinion: Sean Dyche Must Drop £80k-a-Week Everton Player After Losing 72% of Duels Against Aston Villa

As has been the case recently under Sean Dyche, Everton’s deficiencies, particularly in midfield, have been costly in key moments.

Their inability to maintain possession, even for short periods, left them vulnerable to constant waves of attack.

This was evident once again in their recent match against Aston Villa, where similar issues arose as seen in their previous collapse against AFC Bournemouth.

It’s frustrating to witness these struggles unfold, and among those who underperformed at Villa Park, Idrissa Gana Gueye stood out as one of the most disappointing.

His performance could lead to him being dropped from the starting lineup in Everton’s next match against Leicester City.

How did Idrissa Gana Gueye perform against Aston Villa?

Gueye, a dependable figure during his two stints at Everton, has long been a stalwart for the club.

However, at 34 years old, he is no longer the relentless force he once was.

Despite this, he continues to be heavily relied upon, playing an average of 83 minutes per game in the Premier League this season.

In Saturday’s match, Gueye only lasted 64 minutes but was out of sync from the start.

His lack of involvement was highlighted by his mere 20 touches throughout the game, and he completed only eight passes, according to Sofascore.

Defensively, Gueye also struggled. He won just two of his seven duels, a 28% success rate, and committed two fouls, lost possession three times, and was dribbled past once.

It was a tough performance to watch, and while Orel Mangala also had a difficult outing, Gueye’s struggles were particularly glaring.

Who could replace Idrissa Gana Gueye in Everton’s midfield?

Despite his poor showing, Dyche’s options for replacing Gueye are limited.

Orel Mangala, who had his own struggles, might be the only viable alternative for Everton’s upcoming Premier League match against Leicester City.

With right-back options scarce and Vitaliy Mykolenko being substituted early against Aston Villa, there’s a chance James Garner could be deployed at right-back while Ashley Young starts on the opposite side.

Tim Iroegbunam has shown promise but also displayed some natural deficiencies due to his youth and inexperience.

Beyond that, Everton lacks real alternatives in midfield, leaving Mangala as the likely candidate to start.

Dyche could use Tuesday’s EFL Cup match as an opportunity to assess whether Mangala is ready for a Premier League return.