Iwobi's lack of Everton impact is harder to defend than ever

In Everton's recent defeat to Aston Villa, Rafa Benitez made an interesting decision after an hour, with the score at 0-0.

The former Liverpool boss brought off Salomon Rondon, and in the Venezuelan's stead sent on midfielder Andre Gomes.

There was a brief moment of confusion before the upshot of that decision became obvious. In the absence of both Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Alex Iwobi, to that point employed in a quite ineffectual brief on the right, would play as the side's centre-forward.

Fifteen minutes later, Everton were down 3-0.

Of course, there was more to the collapse than simply that. To suggest otherwise would be naive at best, disingenuous at worst. However, there was a sense that, with no threat to concern themselves with anymore, Villa were emboldened to stride forward and decide the game. Such a swift turnaround will only fuel that notion.

Ordinarily, it is the sort of decision that would lead to questions over Benitez himself. However, considering the extenuating circumstances, the conversation has inexorably turned to Iwobi himself, and it is easy enough to understand why.

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Considering the significant fee Everton shelled out to acquire him, the Nigeria international has largely underwhelmed in his time on Merseyside to date.

What is even more worrying is the distinct feeling of familiarity to his continued ineffectiveness.

Failing in new ways might be failure still, but it at least conveys a sense of the kinetic, and so it is interesting to observe nevertheless.

By and large though, Iwobi’s Everton career has followed the same route: (new) manager gives belief, the player starts a couple of matches on the basis of outstanding training performances, he talks up the influence the manager is having on his game, has a minor hot streak, and then reverts to an anonymous mean.

You could almost set your watch to it.

Benitez is the latest to be taken in by the Nigerian’s application in training. Who can blame him? Whatever one might say about Iwobi, his professionalism is close to unimpeachable, and his relative lack of ego makes him a model pupil, perfect for a drill sergeant like the former Liverpool boss.

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According to reports, the 25-year-old produced outstanding physical readings in preseason, impressing the new manager and quickly earning trust.

So far this season, Iwobi is seventh for total minutes played (496) in the entire squad, and has made it onto the pitch for all of Everton’s eight matches in all competitions.

In the wake of the League Cup victory over Huddersfield, Benitez was even quick to applaud the Nigerian for his “character and determination” to stay on while carrying a knock, and Iwobi has been reciprocal in his praise of the Spaniard for “always talking” and “trying to help”.

As it happens, that Huddersfield game is the only one this season in which Iwobi has found the back of the net.

Aside that, and an assist on the opening day against Southampton (both games came within a 10-day span), the pickings have been non-existent in terms of direct goal involvements, and there is a growing clamour – again – among the Everton faithful for him to be dropped, even in spite of the unavailability of Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin.

There will be some who are willing to give the former Arsenal man a pass for his lack of productivity (and there is some merit to this on account of the sort of player he is intrinsically), but it is a hard sell for three reasons. The most obvious one is the transfer fee: ball progression is a valuable and underrated skill, but it is hard to argue that value is to the tune of the 30 million euros Everton paid.

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The second problem is that the player himself acknowledges it is not a good enough rationalization.

“At 25, I can no longer make excuses for myself,” he admitted in a recent BBC Sport interview. “Personally you have to be honest with yourself and admit what part of your game must change to adapt.” Even he understands he could be doing more.

The third, and probably the most damning of all, is the contribution that Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend have made, despite costing Everton a combined 2 million euros in transfer fees in the summer.

Neither was signed particularly for their scoring prowess, but between them they have pitched in with seven goals and four assists already. That’s more goals than Iwobi has managed over two seasons and 73 appearances for the Toffees, and only one fewer assist. That’s a difficult reality to parse.

The greater frustration for Everton and Iwobi’s own team mates, all of whom aver his mastery of the ball on the pitches at Finch Farm, will be that even when handed a place in the team by default on account of injuries, the Nigerian has failed to seize the opportunity.

Games continue to pass him by, in much the same way as his time at Goodison Park has.

With the club’s superstar forwards poised for returns after the international break, Manchester United at the weekend suddenly feels like last-chance saloon for Iwobi.