Marco Silva’s signing of Richarlison attempts to solve a problem that Everton have had since 1992. 7 managers have tried and failed to replace Kevin Sheedy’s production from the left hand side of Everton’s midfield. The Street End takes a look at some of Richarlison’s predecessors and how he stacks up against them.
Sheedy
Kevin Sheedy is one of the greatest players that have ever worn the royal blue shirt of Everton. After crossing the park in 1982, the Welsh born Irishman became an integral part of Everton’s glory years. In 274 appearances, Sheedy scored 67 goals and created so many more with his majestic left foot. Goodison Park reverberated with the menacing cry of “Sheedy” when Everton got a free kick within 30 yards of the goal. He often rewarded them with a goal. Before David Beckham, there was Kevin Sheedy. He played just as big a role at the club after he retired, bringing players like Tom Davies through the under 18s. Kevin Sheedy is an Everton legend. He was also irreplaceable.
Limpar
After Sheedy left in 1992, Everton had the unpredictable Peter Beagrie as their left winger. Beagrie was comfortable with both feet like Richarlison, but often tried to beat his man 2 or 3 times. He was sold in 1994 to make way for another unpredictable player, the Swedish International Anders Limpar. The Swede joined Everton from Arsenal and initially made a shaky start at Everton, famously giving away a penalty in the first 5 minutes. He won a pivotal penalty to get Everton back into the game but his biggest contribution was yet to come.
After Mike Walker was sacked the following season, Joe Royle replaced him and saw the Swede’s undoubted ability. Limpar was pivotal in Everton’s FA Cup run that season. His display in the 4-1 demolition of the much fancied Tottenham Hotspur and the role he played in the winning goal of the cup final ensured his place in Everton history. Royle later described him as “the most talented player he has worked with.” Limpar was quick, could beat a man and could pick a pass. Unfortunately he lacked the consistency of Kevin Sheedy but he provided many memorable moments in the mid-90s. The lifelong blue donated his FA Cup winners medal to the Everton collection and still supports Everton to this day.
Kevin Kilbane
Photo: Roy Beardsworth / Offside
The following years were barren for Everton, highlighted by some of the left wingers who graced the shirt. Mark Pembridge, Idan Tal, Jesper Blomkvist and Steven Hughes, all tried and failed to fill the Sheedy sized void at number 11. An honourable mention would go to Gareth Farrelly, whose goal kept us up in 1998 when all seemed doomed. It wasn’t until David Moyes came along that Everton signed a player whose commitment more than his skill was appreciated by bluenoses.
Kevin Kilbane was a whipping boy at Sunderland. The Mackems even called a 3 month streak without a win ‘the curse of Kilbane.’ This was unfair on a hard working player who didn’t fit the usual profile of a left winger. The tall, Preston born Irishman was not the quickest but possessed a decent left foot and was a threat in the air. He played an important role in Everton’s revival under Moyes, making 104 appearances for the toffees. Whilst no Kevin Sheedy, his graft, rather than his craft, was appreciated by Evertonians. He was an additional aerial threat in a side that finished 4th in 2005, a side based on effort and organisation. Kilbane moved on in 2006 and Moyes didn’t properly replace him until 2008. The player who did replace him became a fixture for the next several years.
Steven Pienaar
In 2008, David Moyes pulled off another of the transfers that made him a good manager. The Scotsman had an eye for a bargain, having signed Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta previously. He repeated this magic by bringing in the former Ajax man, Steven Pienaar from Borussia Dortmund. Pienaar had created the most goals in the 2006 Champions league but endured a miserable time in Germany. He now credits David Moyes with revitalising his career. ‘Schillo’ was an inventive attacking midfielder. Predominantly right footed, his vision and ability to pick a pass made him a fixture on the left side of Everton’s midfield. He was a pivotal part of the linkup between Everton’s midfield and forwards but it was his link up with Everton’s current left back which stood out.
Bainaar 
Leighton Baines had joined Everton in the same season and found the perfect foil to his marauding runs in the hardworking Pienaar. The ‘Bainaar’ partnership was to provide countless goals for Everton over the next few seasons. Unfortunately for Everton and Pienaar, Harry Redknapp broke it up in 2012 with the promise of Champions league football at Spurs. Unfortunately, his time at Tottenham was blighted by injuries. The Spurs fans never saw the best of Steven Pienaar. David Moyes, once again saw an opportunity and brought him back home the following season. His impact was instant, scoring against Chelsea in his first appearance back at Goodison.
The Bainaar partnership was revitalised and continued until injuries began to curtail the South Africans career. He left on a free transfer to Sunderland in 2016, reuniting with David Moyes and played 15 times for the Mackems. He finished his career in his native South Africa and is now Everton’s overseas ambassador. Steven Pienaar combined skill, vision, and hard work to become a mainstay on Everton’s left. Pienaar was arguably Everton’s best left winger since Kevin Sheedy.
Richarlison
This brings us nicely to the new signing, Richarlison. The 21 year old Brazilian hopes to fill the boots of the Everton legend Sheedy. Of all of the left wingers that we have had, Richarlison has the potential. He has the work ethic of a Kilbane and has plenty of experience in Marco Silva’s preferred high pressing game. The physicality, pace and non-stop work rate of the Brazilian will help Everton win the ball higher up the pitch. This front foot football will play into the strengths of Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse who should see more chances next to the Brazilian.
He is also a threat aerially, much like Kevin Kilbane, despite being only 5 foot 10. He won 3.2 aerial duals per game on average last season, a good amount for a left winger. His aerial ability gives us an additional threat for the opposition to worry about at set pieces. Everton were poor in attacking set piece play last season.
Richarlison is quick on the counter attack like Anders Limpar, giving Everton a pacey option in transition. With Theo Walcott on the opposite flank, Richarlison gives Everton one of the fastest counter attacks in the league. Everton have struggled with the transitional phase between defence and attack since the departure of Ross Barkley. Richarlison and Walcott give the midfield 2 options to move the ball up field quickly. They can also interchange wings with both being comfortable on their right foot cutting inside. Richarlison likes to do this often, as did another Everton great, Andrei Kanchelskis. He has a long way to go to reach the Russian flyers standards but has many of the tools that Kanchelskis had.
Potential
At the age of 21, Richarlison has a lot of potential. If he combines Kilbane’s work rate, Limpar’s trickery and vision and Pienaar’s intelligence, he could become an Everton legend. Whilst Richarlison may never have the left foot and genius of Kevin Sheedy, Everton may have the next best thing.
What do you think of the signing of Richarlison? Let us know in the comments below.