'It's sad, it's really sad' - Everton striker eased pressure on manager who kicked him out of the dressing room
Many happy returns to Oumar Niasse but as the former Everton striker celebrates his 34th birthday, those wishing to buy him a present should probably avoid getting him a locker!
With two points deductions this season for Profit and Sustainability Rules breaches the Blues are currently counting the cost of profligacy under Farhad Moshiri. However, it was Niasse, a £13.5million buy from Lokomotiv Moscow on the final day of the 2016 winter transfer window, who proved to be their last major buy before the Monaco-based businessman’s takeover of the club.
Paraded on the Goodison Park pitch for the first time ahead of a 3-0 stroll against Newcastle United in which Ross Barkley bagged a brace of late penalties – the second of which was a cheeky ‘Panenka’ effort in stoppage time – the Senegalese international could have been forgiven for thinking that glory days might lie ahead.
I would speak up if I disagreed with the manager - Everton players should do the same to Sean Dyche
I have a big fear about Sean Dyche's stubbornness - something has to change at Everton
However, after just 152 minutes of action in his first season at Everton, Niasse saw Roberto Martinez, the manager who brought him to Merseyside, sacked and replaced by the far more abrasive Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman was typically blunt as he did not allocate the player a squad number for the new campaign, remarked “If Niasse likes to play football he needs to leave Everton,” and even took away the then 26-year-old’s personal locker as he was demoted to the Under-23s squad.
Koeman decided he didn’t fancy Niasse after he played in the second half of his first game in charge, a 1-0 friendly win over Czech side Jablonec. Recalling the incident when interviewed by the
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