Everton said goodbye to Goodison Park on a high, beating Southampton 2-0 in their final Premier League game at the Old Lady.
It was an emotional day for the Blues as they left Goodison, a ground with so much history, but the result highlighted the progress of the Toffees under the management of David Moyes.
Iliman Ndiaye was the man of the moment, scoring both goals that made the difference to go out with a bang, ahead of the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Iliman Ndiaye has work to do at Everton
Things may be on the up of late, but it has been another difficult campaign for the Toffees, who faced the threat of relegation from the Premier League earlier in the season.
One man who has been a shining light throughout the term, though, is Ndiaye, and his levels have continued to increase since Moyes’ return to Goodison Park.
It seemed fitting for the 25-year-old to be the one who put his name down in the Everton history books after his goals against the Saints.
With next season expected to look a lot brighter on Merseyside, Ndiaye is one man who is surely going to be at the forefront of that progress on the pitch.
However, while appreciating how well he has done, Michael Ball has identified one area where the attacker needs to improve, too.
Analysing his performance against Southampton, Ball wrote in the Liverpool Echo (21 May): “The way he took both goals was fantastic. He showed skill and composure.
“Even though Iliman has been our star player this season when he’s on the ball and making things happen, he’s been quite wasteful at times, especially since he came back from his injury, as he probably returned a bit too soon. He holds the ball up well and can take players on.
“However, that final delivery, that final pass, that final shot, has sometimes been what’s missing. For that first 45 minutes, he showed all the qualities that we know he’s got.”
Ndiaye to be Everton star
It may have been a poor season in the first half of the campaign, but Ndiaye being identified as the star player already shows just how well he has done.
As Ball says, though, there is certainly work that has to be done, and there will surely be development over pre-season as Moyes works hard with the squad ahead of the new campaign.
With the move to Bramley-Moore Dock, the Toffees are eager to build upon their 13th-place finish this term and push even further up the table.
The boss will certainly need support from The Friedkin Group to increase the strength in the side and the depth needed to improve.
However, regardless of who comes in, Ndiaye is surely going to be at the forefront of the Everton squad next season too.
