Nikola Vlasic is spending the season in Russia with CSKA Moscow on loan from Everton.
It is fair to say Sam Allardyce was not popular during his time at Everton. Among other things, the former England manager was lambasted for his treatment of some of the club’s most exciting young players, including Nikola Vlasic.
The Croatian, a £10 million signing from Hajduk Split in 2017, barely featured under Allardyce. And fans were quick to express their fury on Twitter after the veteran tactician admitted to the Liverpool Echo that Vlasic was not part of his immediate plans.
But, if Everton supporters were infuriated by Allardyce’s treatment of the talented winger, perhaps Marco Silva has a case to answer, too.
Unlike Allardyce, Silva is hugely popular among Everton supporters. But it must be remembered that it is Silva, rather than his Dudley-born predecessor, that sent Vlasic out on loan to CSKA Moscow.
“I talked at the beginning of the training with Everton coach Marco Silva, who openly told me he could not promise me a place among the first eleven,” Vlasic told Novilist.
“Since I’ve been practically lost last season, I did not want to repeat something like that.”
Silva, like Alladyce, clearly believed that the versatile forward was not ready for regular Premier League game-time. So perhaps the former Sunderland and West Ham boss knew what he was doing after all.
And it seems unfair that Silva has escaped any scrutiny for making the same decision as Allardyce in deeming Vlasic surplus to requirements.
Vlasic has started three league games so far for CSKA, impressing in the 4-0 win against Ural.
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