“He’s Not Diego Maradona” – Pundit Sympathizes with Everton Star, Criticizes Team-Mates
Michael Ball Highlights How Lack of Support is Hurting Iliman Ndiaye's Performances at Everton
Iliman Ndiaye has been one of Everton’s rare bright spots this season, but his individual performances haven’t been enough to turn the team’s fortunes around.
Sean Dyche’s side has managed just two wins so far, leaving them languishing near the bottom of the table.
Former Everton player Michael Ball has highlighted Ndiaye as a key player who needs more support if the team is to improve.
Writing for the Liverpool Echo (2 December), Ball noted:
“Opponents know what our main threat is—it’s Iliman Ndiaye.
Every time he gets the ball, there are two or three players around him, while the rest of our team stands and watches.
“He needs to improve his final ball, but he’s taking on multiple players with no support. No one is getting close to him, linking up, or playing one-twos.
We’re expecting him to do everything because no one else is on his level.
“That’s making him look worse as a player, and you can see his frustration. He’s not Diego Maradona—he can’t do it all alone.”
Everton Lacks an Attacking Identity
Under Sean Dyche, Everton has consistently struggled to establish an attacking identity, often appearing toothless and bereft of ideas in the final third.
This is surprising, given the talent available in their forward lineup, which remains underutilized.
As Ball pointed out, Ndiaye is frequently isolated, expected to carry the attacking burden alone.
This approach is unsustainable and has contributed to Everton’s poor results, increasing fears of relegation.
While Dyche’s defensive tactics aim to make the team hard to beat, they are not strong enough to withstand pressure from top-tier teams, especially with such a lack of attacking intent.
The upcoming January transfer window offers a chance to bolster the squad with attacking reinforcements.
However, adding players alone won’t resolve the underlying issue. Everton needs a coherent plan to maximize the effectiveness of their attacking options.
Without a clear strategy to utilize their forwards, even new signings will struggle to make a meaningful impact, leaving the team’s survival hopes in jeopardy.
