The Spaniard has lit up many a stadium since returning to Merseyside and has changed the dynamic of the team.
A rather stale 2014-15 season left many an Evertonian shaking their heads as to why the team struggled so badly when compared to the season before – it was the first time in a decade Everton finished in the bottom half of the table in 11th.
Maybe it was a case of those dreaded ‘second-season blues’, but there were too many issues surrounding philosophy and depth for that to be the case. A noticeable cause for concern was the speed (or lack thereof) with which the Toffees played and how slowly defence transitioned to attack. They were far too content to simply hold the ball rather than pick out a killer ball at an early stage of attacks. A pacey outlet was severely lacking as well as general quality on either flank.
A tricky new winger was top of Roberto Martinez’s and indeed the fans’ summer wish lists and with that in mind, attentions turned to ex-loanee Gerard Deulofeu.
Deulofeu impressed in blue throughout his maiden stint at Goodison Park, scoring three goals and notching up an equal number of assists in his 25 appearances and quickly became a fan favourite, solidifying that high standing with that goal against Arsenal at the Emirates. An ill-fated spell at Sevilla the following season, coinciding with Everton’s miserable run, ultimately spelled the end of the Spain under-21’s time at the Nou Camp.
That cleared the way for Martinez to move for the 21-year-old, signing him for a cut-price £4.3 million. The deal was a bargain then and it remains a bargain now, just over a third of the way into the campaign.
Deulofeu is a package encompassing an entire skill-set Everton so sorely missed and, since his arrival, has used those qualities – pace, directness and trickery – to become a critical component in transforming Everton into a fast-moving machine after it was almost entirely snail-paced last season. Forward are his eyes when receiving the ball and forward are his dribbles after looking up, constantly looking to attack the byline and whip across lethal balls or carry the ball further forward.
Plenty of those forays forward have ended in success. The Barcelona product has scored one league goal thus far in his side’s 6-2 demolition of a sorry Sunderland and another, a stunning effort, in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final victory over Middlesbrough, but, impressively and perhaps more importantly, he has created 10 opportunities alongside six assists, already twice that of his 2013-14 tally.
Yesss boysss!! Big win tonight. Semi-finals here we come!! Big thank you to the @Everton fans #COYB ? pic.twitter.com/TYeeBOofsC
— Gerard Deulofeu (@gerardeulofeu) December 1, 2015
In fact, Deulofeu ranks equal-second in the Premier League for assists, behind only Mesut Ozil with 11 and alongside Riyad Mahrez and deadly Manchester City duo David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne with the aforementioned six. As well as Martinez’s shift to a quicker, more direct style of football, Romelu Lukaku has benefited immensely from having Deulofeu alongside him. The Belgian has already equalled his 2014-15 goals tally of 10, with the little Spaniard having a rather big hand in that feat. Five of his six league assists have teed up the former Chelsea man including an inch-perfect, defence-splitting pass against West Ham United on the break that saw Lukaku round Adrian to equalise on the day.
Most Evertonians were already well aware of what Deulofeu had to offer, but if ever one needed reminding of that quality, he showed it against Boro. A scintillating run through the middle, leaving one defender floored, was capped off by a precise finish into the bottom corner, basically off one step. That effort was followed up with yet another assist for Lukaku as ‘Gerry’ was named man of the match.
20′ GOAL! @Boro 0-1 @Everton. A truly stunning goal from @gerardeulofeu. Watch it here! #CapitalOneCup #MIDvEFC https://t.co/glWsZprR40 — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_AUS) December 1, 2015
Back in the league, where Deulofeu has done most of his best work, the Toffees blew a golden opportunity at Bournemouth to take only a solitary point from the Vitality Stadium in a nerve-wracking 3-3 draw.
Next up is a league clash with a side Everton have struggled to deal with at home in the past two seasons: Crystal Palace. The Eagles have twice topped their hosts 3-2 at Goodison since their return to the top flight.
Martinez’s side cannot afford to be conservative against a highly unpredictable Palace side. It must utilise the abilities of Deulofeu and Arouna Kone to not only keep the Londoners pinned in their own half but capitalise on any dominance to avoid being caught out in the opposite direction, in particular by a player who has become something of an arch-nemisis, Yannick Bolasie.
Everton now have a terrific opportunity to enjoy their best season for years. It is no surprise that last season’s lifeless run transpired without the Spaniard. In equal measure, it is hardly a shock that this season, much like Martinez’s debut campaign, has shown so much promise with Deulofeu setting fire to the flanks.
He’s magic you know!
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