Everton: Stop singling Davy Klaassen out for criticism
By Paul Taylor
No one is denying Davy Klaassen has had a disappointing start to his Everton career, but it’s time to stop making him the scapegoat.
It’s fair to say Davy Klaassen has endured a below average start to his career in an Everton shirt. Signed to a five-year deal worth £23.6 million, he is still struggling to find his feet in the Premier League, after an encouraging pre-season.
As a result, Klaassen has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism, from fans and media alike. However, in our opinion, this has been extremely unfair.
Yes, expectations are understandably high for the 24-year-old and yet, it seems as if he’s being made a scapegoat for the Blues’ early season struggles. It’s not as if he’s the only player who has failed to live up to expectations.
In addition, you suspected it would always take time for Klaassen to adapt to the game, something which Ronald Koeman stated himself. As reported by the Daily Mail‘s Dominic King, the Everton manager said:
"“He needs time…He is intelligent on the ball. He can improve in fitness and he can improve physically in battles in the midfield.“That is what he needs to learn and improve but that is normal. The Dutch league is not the Premier League and the boy gets time for that.”"
Of course, this is not enough to satisfy certain sections of the fan base (and media). And yet, it’s entirely reasonable, especially when you consider another former Ajax player, who suffered a similar start to his Premier League career.
We’re sure you’ve heard of Dennis Bergkamp, who went on to become one of the best players in Premier League history. And yet, he also struggled early on, failing to score in his first seven league games for Arsenal and being widely criticised by the media.
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Now, we’re not suggesting Klaassen will go on to have a similar level of impact as Bergkamp in the Premier League (and not just because they play different positions). Regardless, the Gunners legend serves as a reminder of how patience serves as a virtue, when it comes to seeing the best from someone.
It’s not as if the Netherlands international has turned into a bad player overnight. He had enough success during his time with Ajax, to prove he has what it takes to succeed at the top level in England.
Some people have suggested Klaassen needs a break from playing, while others believe he just needs to see more action. Regardless, it’s still way too early to call him a flop, or continue to focus on his below-par performances.
Evertonians are described as being among the most passionate and loyal fans in the game. They’re also renowned for their knowledge and support, two assets which they need to display more, to help Klaassen fight through an indifferent start to his Blues career.
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What’s your opinion on Klaassen’s early struggles for Everton? Is he deserving of all the criticism he has received, or do you agree he deserves more time and patience from the fans? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.