Digne, a positive in a sea of mediocrity

You could be forgiven if you told me you didn’t want talk about the Toffees latest fixture against West Ham United anymore. If you’re anything like me then you’re both a little sad and a tad disappointed in how it ended. Also, again if you’re anything like me you look at a bad (or horrendous) situation and try to take any positives from it you can.

Good for us.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Unfortunately, that game wasn’t exactly full of amazing displays of skill, however a few players stepped up in a big way and this particular write up looks to a 25 year old French international by the name of Lucas Digne for it’s inspiration.

The Frenchman has shown over the last two games that he has something special to offer in both attack and defence once again proving that a wide defender no longer has to stay behind the half way line like a good soldier. He or she can move forward and contribute to an attacking phase which in case you missed it while crying into your pillow watching the blues try to beat the Hammers over the weekend (That was only me?) was what Digne was able to do, and do well.

First of all, let’s take a look at his contributions in attack and before I go any further, just a quick reminder that he is a defender. Throughout the 90+ minutes he was on the pitch he was able to take four shots (one on target) and created a further four chances on goal including some magnificent crosses which his teammates just couldn’t fully capitalize on.

We’ll now move away from the fact he was able take the second most shots on goal by an Evertonian on the weekend (Gylfi Sigurdsson took more with five) and point out that his defensive qualities were on display too. His total number of tackles (7) was the most of any defender during Matchday 5 of the Premier League. Nil satis nisi optimum anyone?

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

We’ll now move away from the fact he was able take the second most shots on goal by an Evertonian on the weekend (Gylfi Sigurdsson took more with five) and point out that his defensive qualities were on display too. His total number of tackles (7) was the most of any defender during Matchday 5 of the Premier League. Nil satis nisi optimum anyone?

Combine that with what he was able to do in the attacking third and it’s no wonder the Hammers fouled the man twice. He just wouldn’t go away!

It’s not just this traumatised writer who sees the potential of this guy either. Speaking through Everton’s Official Website former Toffee Olivier Dacourt described what he sees as the young man’s strengths.

“Technically, he has more quality than your traditional left-back,

“And he goes forward a lot. He was always an attacking full-back but developed that element of his game even more at Barcelona. He is the same as Barca’s first-choice and Spain international Jordi Alba.”

“If clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and Barcelona signed him, he must have real quality, mustn’t he?

“These big clubs are not blind. They took Lucas because he has real quality. And he has the big personality you need to survive at those clubs.”

“I am sure he will do well for Everton. Absolutely sure.”

If he can continue to play his game and show that he is the modern Left Back we think he is then I don’t see how Leighton Baines can regain a starting position in the squad. How can he when we have been given a taste of what’s to come?

At this point there can be no denying that the long term future is Lucas Digne.