EPL 2021/22: Is Demarai Gray finally reaching his potential? – scout report

Demarai Gray burst onto the scene at Birmingham at 17 years of age, to much fanfare, gaining his first start in November of 2013. Yet Gray’s ascension wasn’t rushed, remaining with Birmingham until January of 2016, leaving for Leicester City after making 72 appearances for the Blues.

Gray found it difficult to break into the starting line-up at Leicester, given their famous title run in that season, but even after the title-winning campaign, Gray never quite pushed on with the Foxes. He certainly made a respectable amount of appearances, but never solidified himself as a starter, making 133 appearances in 5 years at the club with game-time significantly dropping off in his last 18 months at the club.

He followed this move by going slightly under the radar with a move to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season, making 10 appearances and scoring once, before moving back to the Premier League this season with Everton. Perhaps the biggest challenge he has faced so far in his young career (he is still only 25), is being part of a club where he is certainly good enough to be there, but perhaps not good enough to always get into the starting line-up and consistently contribute. This move to Everton initially seemed to be part of this theme too. However, Gray has thus far shown he is perhaps on the verge of turning a corner and realising his undoubted potential. 

It is obviously early days, but Gray has scored twice in his first three league games and has looked bright and at home in a Toffees side that is already looking far more promising than the same iteration from last season.

He has predominantly played on the left-wing, although interestingly in his first Premier League appearance for Everton he started in the 10 role. We can take a glimpse at some of his favoured positioning so far in the heat map from these fixtures, shown below.

This tactical analysis and scout report will break down some of Gray’s key actions in his fledgling Everton career, and providing an analysis of the tactics that have allowed him to flourish thus far.

Speed of decision making

Gray has always been a quick and direct winger. However, the overall speed of his play in possession in terms of making decisions has been impressive. He regularly plays passes off of one or two touches, so moves possession on quickly. He is difficult to dispossess as a result, but can also see the opportunity for a smart pass into space in behind, receiving with an open body position and playing the pass behind the pressing defender.