Scout Reports

Can new Everton signing Allan improve the Toffees’ FPL clean sheet prospects?

Everton completed the signing of Allan (£5.5m) from Napoli a week before the start of the 2020/21 campaign, with the Brazilian putting pen to paper on a three-year deal.

The central midfielder will be reunited with Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him for 18 months in Serie A.

While the subsequent capture of James Rodriguez (£7.5m) has perhaps overshadowed it, Allan’s move to Merseyside is still worthy of note from a Fantasy perspective.

The 29-year-old Brazil international likely won’t attract much interest in Fantasy Premier League himself, it should be said: a total of 12 league goals in a career spanning more than a decade is a strong indicator on that front.

The ex-Napoli man only once registered more than five assists in a single season in his eight-year stay in Serie A, meanwhile.

But it’s his potential impact on other Fantasy assets from Everton that we’ll be examining here, a topic that is perhaps even more pertinent given that Ancelotti’s troops sit near the top of our Season Ticker until December: the Toffees face all three newly promoted clubs and five teams who finished tenth or below in the Premier League last season in the first 11 Gameweeks of the new campaign.

PLAYING STYLE

A combative, all-action central midfielder, Allan was a much-needed capture for Everton given their woes in the middle of the park in 2019/20.

The sale of Idrissa Gueye and long-term absence of Jean-Philippe Gbamin (£5.0m) left the Toffees desperately short of defensive shields last season and Ancelotti’s persistence with a 4-4-2 only added to the problems, with Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.0m), Andre Gomes (£5.5m) and Tom Davies (£5.5m) all failing to convince when they were used in a two-man central midfield.

The immobile Sigurdsson especially isn’t suited to such a deep role in the middle of the park, while it’s no coincidence that Gomes’ form suffered without a Gueye-type anchor alongside him.

It soon became blindingly obvious that reinforcements would be needed in the engine room, especially if Ancelotti was to continue with his preferred formation.

He may not be exactly the same type of player as Gueye but Allan nevertheless fits the bill, with the player himself describing his playing style upon signing for the Toffees:

A strong part of my game is marking and the desire to go in to win absolutely every ball.

That is definitely a differential in my game and I believe with my desire I can put in really good performances to win over the fans.

I’ve been very competitive since I was a child; always wanted to win.

Everything we do in midfield and defence – winning a 50/50, winning a tackle or a one-on-one, clearing the ball – a lot of the time it’s like scoring a goal.

In the game, sometimes these things are very important.

At times it all seems so natural but a tackle, winning a one-on-one, clearing a ball; if it’s quite a tight game, we celebrate as if it’s a goal.

That’s about dedication and giving everything on the pitch.

Ancelotti said of his new recruit, meanwhile:

I think Allan is a fantastic player, he has fantastic energy and quality in midfield. I know him very well and he knows me.

Our supporters will love him because he plays with a lot of passion. He is a fantastic signing for us.

Tactically he is really good. Really strong defensively, he wins a lot of balls. He is aggressive and he is Brazilian, so he is able to do both – [contribute] with the ball and without the ball.

For sure, with Allan we are going to improve.

THE HISTORY

Born in Rio de Janeiro in January 1991, Allan’s senior career began in earnest with Vasco de Gama in his homeland.

After making 51 league appearances (without scoring) for the Brazilian outfit, Allan made the move to Udinese in July 2012.

Swiftly becoming a regular in Francisco Guidolin’s overachieving side, Allan spent three seasons with Il Bianconeri – helping them to a fifth-place finish in the first of them – before Napoli won the hotly contested race for his signature in July 2015.

His first three years in Naples were spent under Maurizio Sarri, with Allan very rarely used at the base of the midfield.

Rather, he was more commonly operating in the sort of role we saw N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) in during Sarri’s season-long stay at Stamford Bridge, playing to the side of a ball-playing ‘regista’ – namely Jorginho (£5.0m) – in a 4-3-3.

His attacking returns rose modestly as a result but, following Ancelotti’s appointment as Sarri’s successor in July 2018, the Brazilian was tasked with a more disciplined role in the central midfield two of a 4-4-2 – a system he may again be operating in on Merseyside.

Allan arrives in England off the back of his worst season in years.

A stop-start campaign that was littered with fitness issues ended badly, with Ancelotti sacked in December 2019, Allan falling out with new coach Gennaro Gattuso and losing his place, and Napoli slumping to their worst finish (seventh) in over a decade.

Allan in Serie A
SeasonStartsSub AppsGoalsAssists
2012/1333305
2013/1430303
2014/1533215
2015/1632335
2016/17191016
2017/1832645
2018/1928513
2019/2016721

Source: whoscored.com


Belatedly making his international debut in November 2018, Allan has been capped nine times by Brazil at the time of writing.

ALLAN V OTHER EVERTON MIDFIELDERS

Allan in Serie A
SeasonTackles won per 90 minsInterceptions per 90 minsClearances per 90 mins
2015/163.51.20.4
2016/173.91.40.8
2017/183.40.90.4
2018/193.61.30.9
2019/203.51.10.7

Source: whoscored.com




BEST PLAYERS BY POSITION:

1,314 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Lukakuna
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Fan Team question:
    Any merit to skipping the first gameweek and get 70% of the average, then build a Manchester heavy squad for GW2?

  2. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pulisic is the one I want from Chelsea and I would wait until GW3 to get him

    Do you think he could be rotated/subbed early with all the new signings, especially as Werner could play on the left?

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think Havertz vs Pulisic will be a close call.

      I'm also a bit worried about Pulisic's injuries. The way he is sprinting all the time he's very prone to these type of injuries.

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Pulisic is better thanks to Ziyech's crosses unless Havertz is on penalties

  3. shady4revr
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Havertz on pens.

    1. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Werner .. scored 13 out of 16

      Kai .. scored 13 out of 13

      tight!

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Jorginho if he is on the field

        1. shady4revr
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I dont like the way he jumps before kicking it, monkinio.

  4. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Matt Law saying Puli might be fit GW1... damn, even if he comes off the bench I'd rather start with him than Ziyech or Havertz. Or just bench him for Buur and then start him. Hopefully Lamps gives us an update

  5. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mané Salah and Auba and transfer one of the Liverpool guys out for Bruno.

    Do you think that’s a good punt??

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes all solid picks on their own.

    2. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I have the same plan or may go with Son instead of Mane and then get Bruno

      1. One Man
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Prefer this.

  6. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Brazilian defender Alex Telles’s agent has reportedly arrived in the United Kingdom to agree terms with Manchester United over the full-back’s proposed departure from Portuguese giants, Porto.

    Aston Villa set to complete club-record £28m deal for Ollie Watkins today as Brentford striker travels to Birmingham for medical.

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Isn't Telles off to Wolves?

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        That was a distant 2 days ago.

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          This is a headache! Really want a Wolves def and I hope their signings sorted by Friday.

          1. Podorsky
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Whats wrong with Vinagre?

      2. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        not as per reports on internet

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Is this from one of those clickbait sources?

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        nah! I don't fall for it

        1. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Then its great news for us 🙂

  7. Boere Mafia
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    If GW2 the plan is to go to Martial, what 7mil stirker and below is the best punt for GW1. I am leaning towards Antonio at the moment, but West Ham is a bit of shambles at the moment. The others I am thinking of is Wilson and Eddie

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Have exactly the same plan and Antonio looks the best option on paper right now.

      1. Boere Mafia
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        thanks. might stick there then

    2. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Going from Ings to Martial in GW2

      1. Boere Mafia
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah my funds are not stretching that far though. my plan for gw 2 includes a hit to do the move

  8. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Revamped the team and hmm...

    McCarthy

    TAA - Dier - Davies - Buur (Taylor)

    Auba - Ziyech - Rodriguez (Bissouma, Reed)

    Kane - Werner - Martial (Ings placeholder)

    It looks decent on paper, not sold on it just yet though

    1. Boere Mafia
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Looks a bit different then other templates, but I like variety. Ziyech, I prefer Havertz, but that is a wait and see where he will play. Think Ziyech is safe on the right for Chelsea. FWD line very stronk and lot of budget invested in there, but they have great fixtures so should do well.

  9. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Comes to this one final decision 🙂

    With the available players this season, which formation and players would you go for?? (please mention a couple of players as well)

    - 5.5-6.0m def in 442
    - 6.0-6.5m mid in 352
    - 6.0-6.5m fwd in 343

  10. De Gea is GOAT
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son or Kane? And why? Thanks legends

    1. Kiwi Don
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Both have trolled me in the past. Totally over Kane as an option, always think this season will be different and he will hit his old form but with injuries and Mourinho playing more defensive I would avoid. I had Son some of last season but dropped him when he was playing wide left all the time. If he plays central he is a great pick but wide left not as keen.
      But the long answer to your question is Son.

  11. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Morning!

    Who is best in the 5m bracket ?

    A. Egan,
    B. Stephens,
    C. Saiss

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  12. Daniel Exeter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    6.5 Wilson :|:| barg

  13. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Chelsea players - Penalties overall

    Jorginho - 20/21
    Kai - 13/13
    Werner - 13/16
    Ziyech - 13/19

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      They ain't Man United. No use if good pen takers if you don't get many 😀

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I think they'll get a decent amount this time around

  14. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed

    McCarthy

    TAA - Dier - Davies - Buur (Taylor)

    Auba - Ziyech - Rodriguez (Bissouma, Reed)

    Kane - Werner - Martial (Ings placeholder)

    It looks decent on paper, not sold on it just yet though

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nvm

  15. Live Lad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Tierny is nailed right?? He should be at 5.5. Is he CB/ LB or what? I just want an Arsenal defender with Arteta in charge and those 2 fixtures. That guy seems attacking too with his track record.

  16. Lost in fantasy
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pls RMT

    McCartney
    TAA Davies Robertson(set and locket)
    Auba Ali Douc 9m(if douc 5.5)
    Adams Werner Martial

    Nyland Mitchell Vinagre Stephen

    Auba to KDB gw3

    Any ideas for a mid at 9m first 2 gw before getting more info about how The Chelsea mid performs.

  17. Live Lad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Do we know that DCL is nailed? I know there aren't any good lone striker there but... Richarlison might be deployed as one? If he is still up front supported by quality players, DCL could be gold.

  18. One Man
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anybody taking a punt on JRod to start with ? Tempting as none of the 6 to 7m strikers temp me. To many unknowns.

  19. ManofKent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    TAA, Robbo, KWP, ?, 4m

    ? Doherty with 4.5m 5th mid playing Soucek as 4th
    ? Davies/Dier with 5.5 mid and Soucek as 5th

    Keep switching! Any thoughts?

    1. One Man
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Dier & ASM

  20. !_Ar_0059
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed....

    McCarthy
    VVD - Stevens - Dier
    Salah - Auba - Bowen - ASM
    Ings - Kane - Mitro

    Gunn - Douglas - Vinagre - Harper

    1. shady4revr
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      3/10

      1. !_Ar_0059
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        ...well

  21. Lebowski85
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    As two set and forget Defenders on a premium defence team, would you prefer

    A) Azpilicieta & VVD
    B) AWB & Robbo

    1. Incredibles
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B) Think Robbo will outscore and VVD and AWB will outscore Azpi over the season