Bernard shines in Everton victory

Another of the most impressive performances in last night’s victory for Everton over Fleetwood Town, was that of Brazilian Bernard.

Bernard has been a fringe player in the Everton squad for a long time and has struggled recently to nail down a place in the Toffees first-team.

He was a signing that arrived to some fanfare back in 2018, after he left Shaktar Donetsk on a free transfer. It was a bit of a coup that the Toffees got him as he was regarded as one of the best talents available, offering that traditional Brazilian flair, individualism and creative skill.

However, despite that early optimism, he has found it difficult to adjust to the challenging environment of the English Premier League.

Bernard is small, lacking the size and obvious strength of the increasingly ever-more powerfully built players, dominating the modern game.

Although, having said that, he is also surprisingly combative, never shirks a challenge and puts in more defensive work than would have been expected from such a slight, diminutive player.

However, he was signed as a tricky, skillful and technically excellent player, who is actually a little bit of a throwback to an earlier time in football.

In fact he reminds me of another diminutive Brazilian play-maker I remember from my youth, in Zico, who was one of the stars of the late seventies and early eighties.

I’m not saying Bernard is as good a player as Zico, who was one of the best footballers of his or perhaps any generation. However, like Zico he is an inventive play-maker and at his best can offer something a bit different to unlock an opposing defence.

But Bernard hasn’t been able to establish himself in the Blues team, especially over the past season or so when he has fallen down the pecking order and found himself relegated to the bench.  He’s also had some injury problems as well recently, which haven’t helped.

Often playing wide on the left and despite having for a time under Marco Silva, established a good relationship on that flank with Lucas Digne , he was even ultimately displaced in that position by Gylfi Sigurdsson when Carlo Ancelotti took over.

With the addition of the three new summer signings in this transfer window, his chances seemed even more limited in the upcoming season.

So he was one of a number of squad players who was considered surplus to requirements and his name regularly surfaced when discussions centered on which players should be sold.

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But these recent Carabao Cup games have given the Brazilian another chance at Everton and he is taking it with both hands.

Again, I do think he is better able to contribute playing in a 4-3-3 when he can operate in a more fluid role whether that is in midfield or up front.

I’ve also discussed recently Everton perhaps becoming very dependent on the flair, invention and creativity of James Rodriguez and the need to consider whether the team might need a Plan B.

While Bernard couldn’t replace his fellow South American team mate’s ability and influence, he might be able to provide that bit of individualistic flair for a while. Given the fact that he can play in a wider position, drift inside and operate as Rodriguez does, it wouldn’t necessitate a change in formation either.

Whether this was a part of his strategy or not, (I’m sure it was), Ancelotti’s new arrivals have certainly shaken things up at Goodison Park. We seem to be seeing which of the incumbent players can respond and raise their game. So far, Bernard appears to be one of them.