Despite starring in the Turkish Super Lig, few at Everton will regret their decision.
Magaye Gueye could have been a professional sprinter if he hadn’t turned his attentions to football. And while his explosive acceleration was often utilised to great effect on the turf, it quickly became apparent that this most erratic of wingers was almost too reliant on his natural, physical attributes.
It’s ironic, then, that just a few months after joining Championship outfit Millwall on a free in 2014, he was excluded by manager Ian Holloway for becoming, in layman’s terms, rather portly. So much so that even his rapid pace had diminished, as reported by the Liverpool Echo, and he was released at the end of the season.
Consequently, few Everton supporters would have been lamenting the club’s decision to move him on to The Den on a free after just 39 appearances for the club.
Gueye offered the odd glimpse of quality, inspiring an FA Cup quarter-final win against Sunderland to book Everton’s place at Wembley for the first time in three years, but far too often he flattered to deceive.
Even an excellent run of form in Turkey with current club Adanaspor will convince the fans that he deserved another chance. Nonetheless, few will begrudge the 26-year-old getting his career back on track at the club one point and once place off the bottom in the Super Lig.
Without Gueye’s eight goals and four assists, Adanaspor would be in even more trouble. Yet, the club are still seven points from safety though Gueye’s performances suggest that he may be handed a lifeline if they are unable to pull off a Great Escape that even Sunderland would consider a little improbable.
Though don’t expect him to turn up at Ian Holloway’s QPR any time soon.
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