David Moyes has began life at Manchester United, and so has Roberto Martinez at Everton. The circle of life. It is usual for new managers to rely on players they have previously managed, and this seems to be true regarding Everton being linked with Wigan Athletic forward Arouna Kone – but what can he bring to the party that their current strikers currently do not?
Well, for starters, Arouna Kone scored more goals (11) than all three Everton strikers; Victor Anichebe (7), Nikica Jelavic (7) and Kevin Mirallas (6). Although, the Ivorian forward did play more games (32) than the Everton trio, Anichebe played 19 games, Jelavic played 26 and Mirallas played 19 games.
Injuries blighted Mirallas’ season, and it can be said he is more effective coming in off the wing, rather than the quintessential forward like Jelavic and Anichebe.
Jelavic and Anichebe have had their problems throughout the season, both for different reasons. Jelavic went through a goal drought, while Anichebe seems to have his injury demons.
After signing from Rangers in January 2012, Jelavic was the quickest player to reach 10 goals for Everton in a century, he was Everton’s leading goalscorer in the 2011/2012 season; despite only playing half a season for the Toffees.
The Croatian had a good start to the 2012/2013 season, seemingly starting the campaign how he ended the previous – scoring four goals in six games in the Premier League, but soon after that the goals dried up until he scored a deflected effort against Manchester City in their 2-0 win at Goodison Park, before that, he went 836 minutes without a goal.
Jelavic managed seven goals and two assists in the 2012/2013 season- second season syndrome, perhaps?
Victor Anichebe, as stated earlier, has had his injury demons for years. A poor Kevin Nolan tackle on Anichebe in February 2009 saw the Nigerian need a knee operation, resulting in the forward not appearing for the Toffees until January 2010. That was just the start for Anichebe, he continued to have problems with his knee and groin until the start of the 2012/2013 season.
The Nigerian seemed to find more consistency last season, his injuries didn’t pop up and hurt his first team chances, which helped the forward with a return of seven goals and four assists, Anichebe boasted a Clear Chance Conversion rate of 33%, a shooting accuracy of 47% and a goal every 286 minutes.
Arouna Kone had a good first season in the Premier League after signing from La Liga club Levante in the summer of 2012.
Kone scored 11 goals and added 5 assists to his team’s cause, his mins per goals (266) is better than Anichebe’s – as is his CCC rate (35%) and his shooting accuracy (51%.) But couldn’t help Wigan survive the fate of relegation, but played a vital part in the Latics FA Cup success.
Both strikers possess the creativity that a lone striker needs, but who comes out on top in this department?
Kone boasted a better goal assist record than Anichebe, but played 13 more games than the Nigerian forward. Kone created more open play chances (36) than Anichebe (17), and also more total chances created (41) compared to Anichebe’s (21).
Although, Victor Anichebe created (7) clear cut chances, four more than Kone who created (3) clear cut chances. Anichebe created a clear-cut chance every 246 minutes, Kone created a clear-cut chance every 976 minutes. Anichebe the clear winner in that sense.
If Kone and Martinez reignite their relationship from Wigan to Everton, the new Everton manager will have a tough decision on his hands on who to start upfront if he is to deploy a lone frontman, that is if Anichebe doesn’t record another knee or groin injury.
Source: EPLindex.com
