Kean keen to replay Everton fans faith
Moise Kean has spoken of how he has been adjusting to life in England and the importance of the support he has had from Everton fans during this transition.
Kean has had a difficult time over the first half of this season, since he joined Everton from Juventus in the summer transfer window.
The Italian youngster struggled to get enough game time under previous manager Marco Silva and had to try to make an impact when he did play for intermittent minutes in this game or that, usually as a substitute.
Kean drew a blank in front of goal, which only increased pressure on him and he seemed to be having trouble settling into life at the club. There were rumours that he wasn’t happy with the manager and stories circulated that his father wanted him to move back to Italy.
Then Carlo Ancelotti arrived after Silva was sacked in December. Although Kean still wasn’t immediately catapulted into the starting eleven under his compatriot, he did get more consistent opportunities and started against Newcastle United with Richarlison out injured, in the Blues last Premier League match at Goodison Park.
Crucially Kean finally broke his duck too netting for the first time in an Everton shirt. It was the most welcome part of an excellent all-round performance that underlined his ability and potential.
I think a rejuvenated and confident Kean could be a key player for the Toffees for the remainder of this season.
Under their new manager, the Toffees have become a more consistent outfit and are generally conceding fewer goals, (that ridiculous game against Newcastle apart), but Everton are still struggling to find the back of the net consistently.
If Kean can force his way into Ancelotti’s team and maintain the kind of form he has shown, then his goals could prove crucial in catapulting the Blues up the Premier League table and perhaps even to grabbing a European place.
This situation would also give Ancelotti more options in how he sets up his team to play. So he could perhaps experiment with a 4-3-3 system playing Kean alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. This might also help solve the problems that Everton have in midfield.
There is a lack of options and suitable players in the middle. Ancelotti could try playing a three of say Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Alex Iwobi. I know this isn’t exactly the best midfield combination, but in the continued absence of Jean-Philippe Gbamin and the lack of any signings to fill the gap his injuries have left, there isn’t a lot of choice, is there?
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
Another alternative I would like to see tried in midfield is play Leighton Baines there. It might seem a little odd, but in some ways I think this might be the future for Baines and could help prolong his career for a few more seasons.
It could be a very similar situation to Gareth Barry another left-back who shifted into midfield. Barry was an excellent signing for Everton and he played very effectively in the Blues team allowing then manager Roberto Martinez to experiment up front.
Anyway these are just some possibilities and musings on my part!
At the very least I hope that Kean can continue to improve and make a real contribution to Everton’s cause as the team strives to finish as high up the league as they can by season’s end.