Everton Fan View: Gerard Deulofeu. He was magic for Everton, ya know?
“He magic, ya know? Gerard Deulofeu” sung the Everton fans to the tune that came out nearly 20 years before he was born, called Magic by the band Pilot.
The now 22 year old was seen as something as a loan coup when he got him in on a temporary basis in 2013, he was projected at that time to be the next best thing at Barcelona and we we’re going to use him for a little while before he went back to Catalonia to rule all of Europe, or something like that. When the loan deal expired the Everton fans were desperate for it to be renewed.
Deulofeu returned thinking that he was going to be a part of the Barcelona squad, but he was told that he was surplus to requirements and needed more development, and was loaned to Sevilla. Their manager at the time Unai Emery didn’t like what he saw, mainly a lack of work rate. That was evident in his first spell at Everton, but it was kind of ignored as we were winning games, Martinez didn’t seem bothered and he was providing plenty of magic.
He didn’t enjoy his time in Seville, but when it came time for him to decide on his next career move, Barcelona had seen enough of his performances in La Liga to know that they were content with letting him go permanently. So they did, to Everton, and we were delighted. The magician was back after a poor season without him and we were going to bounce back into European football again.
It wasn’t to be, and his flaws were magnified. He wasn’t singled out as the season was so poor for so many reasons that’s struggles were a mere footnote, but he was one of many (almost all) who didn’t have a good season.
His magic came from is lightening quick feet over the ball, pace along the ground and also his quick decision making. He went through a period of providing perfect early balls to Lukaku who was loving the service, but then it all went wrong. His finishing has always been suspect and it didn’t improve. His crossing which was once a deadly weapon, had been decommissioned and replaced by a man who never crosses at the best moment, dawdles on the balls and most often takes the wrong option.
Ronald Koeman is a man seemingly not blessed with a lot of patience. He gave Deulofeu a chance, he failed, and he wasn’t going to wait around and continue to let results suffer. The Spaniard was our best player in pre-season which further adds weight to the idea of thinking that you can’t read anything from it.
He’s a player equipped to do special things, but so was James McFadden. Football is about putting it together over 90 minutes week in, week out. It’s something Deulofeu has never done. Will he do it again in the future? I’m really not sure, but I desperately don’t want him to leave just yet.
It’s hard to remember, but there was a point when every time he received the ball, you’d creep over to the edge of your seat in anticipation of the magic his feet were just about to wand. He is one of those players that captivates and excites, but eventually that faded away after repeated failures.
It can take time for wingers to learn their craft, but he’s had a hell of an education. Barcelona, Sevilla, Everton, and now AC Milan. If he fails in the Italian capital then his days of playing for big clubs in Europe’s top leagues will be over. I hope he can find that magic again in Milan, and I hope it can then make its way back to Merseyside.
