Michael Ball believes Iliman Ndiaye’s performance was one of the only positives as Everton slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday (31 August).
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, the new signing was a shining light as the Toffees took a 2-0 lead against the Cherries at Goodison Park.
Antoine Semenyo scored what appeared to be a consolation goal just four minutes after being caught by Sean Dyche before Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra staged a disastrous comeback.
Ball wrote in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday, September 3: “Everton need to try and get something positive out of the game against Bournemouth and Iliman Ndiaye looks an exciting signing as he gets the fans off their seats with his unpredictability.
“Ndiaye brought something that we’ve been completely missing for many years and I think it was one of the best individual performances I’ve seen at Goodison Park for a long, long time.
“I remember Robinho coming to Manchester City and he impressed everyone and his signing lifted everyone else’s game. We all thought, ‘I want to play football with this boy, help him achieve greatness and I want to be a part of that and show that here. also a good football player.”
“As a new player you fight to show what you are and we have seen that since Ndiaye’s first start in the Premier League. There is a level for everyone.”
Iliman Ndiaye transfer position at Everton
Ndiaye’s £15m move to Merseyside this summer was met with great fanfare [BBC Sport] , mainly because Dyche could add an extra attacking threat to his starting line-up.
Despite his disappointing spell with Marseille in Ligue 1, the 24-year-old is already quite a household name in England after two seasons at Sheffield United, where he scored 22 goals in 88 games.
Ndiaye has already brought some of that spark to Goodison Park, and although he only earned a 3-0 win against Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup, he looks a shrewd signing.
Of course the fans are disappointed and generally focused on the defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, but now is the time for everyone to come together and get behind the team.
Dyche’s side are yet to pick up a point in the table, losing to Brighton, Tottenham and Cherries, but there is plenty of time to put things right and secure Premier League safety once again.