Scout Notes – Europa League

Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye get the goals as Everton move closer to a place in the group stages of the Europa League, with new signing Gylfi Sigurdsson watching from the stands.

Shape shifting for Sigurdsson?

Having started with a 3-4-2-1 against Stoke City on Saturday, the ever-flexible Ronald Koeman went with a 4-2-3-1 for the visit of Hajduk Split, and it is a shape that seems to suit his personnel well.

Davy Klaassen looked bright as the most advanced of the midfield three – a position that Sigurdsson could easily fill and may well covet.

But Koeman’s liking for two wide men on either side of a lone striker, in this case Wayne Rooney, gives the Icelander scope to operate from the left. It is a role he performed at Swansea City very effectively, and one that would enable the Everton manager to field both of his major midfield signings.

Sigurdsson’s move to Goodison immediately made him the most popular Everton midfielder in Fantasy Premier League, bringing 6.1% ownership with him.

Those managers might have to wait a while longer to see their man in action, however, as Koeman made clear post-match:

“We will do some tests to see about Gylfi’s physical state. He needs game-time, but if it’s game-time he needs – it will be with the first team. I don’t know if he’ll be involved on Monday (away at Man City), but we will make that decision on Sunday.”

Rotation not for Ronald

Koeman said, earlier in the week, that:

“We don’t reserve people for Monday. We like to be part of Europe. We will put a strong team in.”

And he was true to his word.

Eight of the side who started against Stoke took to the field against Split.

A return to a back four meant Phil Jagielka stood down, while makeshift wing-back Dominic Calvert-Lewin was replaced by Kevin Mirallas wide on the left and Ademola Lookman caught the eye, in the first-half at least, on the opposite flank as Sandro missed out with a knock.

Should Everton make the group stages and Koeman continues to target European advancement, it could prove to be a double-edged sword for Fantasy managers.

It would be good to know that Koeman is likely to pick his core performers consistently, but the Europa League’s Thursday night schedule and far-flung locations has sapped the life from all but the strongest of Premier League squads over the years.

Everton’s transfer dealings have upped the quality at Goodison, but whether there’s sufficient strength in depth remains to be seen.

Much revolves around Rooney

The one constant in Everton’s pre-season and early matches of what could be a gruelling campaign has been that Ronald Koeman clearly rates Wayne Rooney.

Whether the England man plays up front, on the flank or as an advanced midfielder, the point is that he plays.

Some 16.5% of FPL managers own him, and they will buoyed by his form – he scored on Saturday and set up Gueye’s goal last night – and that he also gets the minutes.

Against Split, Koeman brought Calvert-Lewin on and put him through the middle up front in Rooney’s starting position.

But Rooney stayed on and it was Klaassen who departed, with the striker dropping back into the Dutchman’s place.

Two more substitutions followed, each requiring a shift in the veteran forward’s role, neither of which involved a trot to the bench for a well-earned rest.

Toffees’ defenders deliver

Fantasy veteran Leighton Baines could well be in for yet another productive campaign.

This is his 12th season in the top flight and he’s produced triple-digit returns in all but three of them.

The 11.2%-owned defender was used as a wing-back against Stoke and a left-back last night, providing the assist for Keane’s opening goal. He also scored in the previous round of the Europa League.

Baines’ set-piece delivery and penalty-taking expertise also elevate him and whether Koeman opts for a three or four-man defence, he expects plenty of attacking intent from his defenders out wide.

Summer signing Keane, meanwhile, opened his competitive account for Everton with the first goal, a close-range header, against the Croatians.

After returning eight points for his 14.1% FPL ownership in Gameweek 1, the centre-half put in another assured display.

Keane managed two strikes for a goal-shy Burnley outfit last season.

And his underlying stats suggest he could be on for a lot more in a considerably more progressive Everton side.

Only three defenders produced more headed attempts than his 16, while 22 efforts in the box was just three less than the number one ranked defender, Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso (25).

Yet Everton’s evil upcoming schedule – trips to both Manchester sides and Chelsea and a visit from Spurs in the next four – is enough to deter investment in their main men until the schedule turns kinder in Gameweek 6.