Yahoo News Everton relegation hero is clear - but two more deserve praise after perfect week
Joe Thomas - A familiar hero rose to the fore
Idrissa Gueye has been the headline hero and deserves his plaudits, but my focus is on two of his teammates. First, Dwight McNeil. How satisfying has it been to see his left foot come back to life with such venomous devastation this week? McNeil's second gave Everton crucial breathing space against Forest and was the pick of the goals in an incredible week.
It was his powerful effort that Alisson Becker tipped over for the corner that he then landed on Calvert-Lewin's head for the second in the derby. When he struck the bar against Brentford he was denied the perfect ending to a perfect week and I suspect the frame is still rattling now - helped, of course, by Garner causing it to shudder in stoppage time.
But the man for me is the one who has done more than anything to keep Everton in the Premier League during the struggles of recent seasons. Pickford has endured tough moments this season but his brilliance has again been crucial. His stop from Chris Wood on the cusp of half-time against Forest was up there with his crucial moments against Cesar Azpilicueta and James Maddison and was vital to protecting a lead going into the break.
In the derby he was excellent, denying Andy Robertson, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mo Salah as he once again saved a big performance for his fiercest critics - he was also excellent at Newcastle United recently.
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Brentford was a tame affair but there was another important save when Ivan Toney looked destined to put his side 1-0 up and burst the bubble by pouncing at the back post in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Chris Beesley - Trio stand out after hat-trick of victories but one player had the edge
Given that Everton’s hat-trick of home wins was achieved through a great team collective from both the squad and manager, it seems unfair to pick out a single individual for special praise but we’ve been asked to do that and pick our biggest player of the past week.
Even though he didn’t make it through to the third game against Brentford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin deserves a mention given the way he overcame illness and injury to become a goalscoring hero in Everton’s first Merseyside Derby victory at Goodison Park in 13-and-a-half years but in terms of consistency over the trio of fixtures, a few of his team-mates stand out. Using my player ratings as a guide, a pair of players both obtained a combined score of 24 and they were captain James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil – whose long-range effort sealed the 2-0 success against Nottingham Forest to put the Blues on their way.
Another three players are all tied on scores of 26 and they’re goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, whose heroics ensured a hat-trick of clean sheets; Jarrad Branthwaite, who slotted his side ahead against Liverpool and excelled at both ends of the pitch; and Idrissa Gueye who bookended the fixtures with a brace of goals. For that reason, the Senegalese international midfielder, who is not normally known for his finishing, but also ran the show against the Reds in between, is my selection.
Matt Jones - Everton's most decorated player comes to the party
Winning goal, player-of-the-match, winning goal. It has to be Idrissa Gueye doesn't it?
The last week has been a little reminiscent of the Gana who left Everton to join Paris Saint-Germain. In his final months as an Everton player in his first stint he added elements to his game aside from his tireless efforts off the ball. There was a purpose to his passing and he was more comfortable bursting forward.
Alongside James Garner, who has done a more disciplined job since returning to the team, Gana has been unleashed this week and the Blues have been revitalised.
Naturally, he won't keep up the goalscoring ratio of two every seven days. But there's no reason why he can't continue to offer more of a box-to-box presence, even in the twilight of his playing days. The energy and intelligence off the ball that made him so effective early in his Everton career are still there despite his advancing years. Now there should be nous and composure in possession to match it.
When supporters have talked of experienced players and their need to step up this season, the Senegal international isn't someone who immediately springs to mind as a leader. Yet it's clear he's a hugely popular member of the squad and given his recent exploits winning titles in France and featuring in the Champions League alongside Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, it should be no surprise he's held in such high regard by the rest of the first team.
At times, his second spell at Everton has looked like a move made on the basis of sentiment and little else. But Gana has come to the party when it mattered most this season and over his two spells at Goodison Park, surely now has to be considered among one of Everton's most influential midfielders of the Premier League era.
