Martinez sees Garbutt staying long term

, 27 February, 65comments  |  Jump to most recent

Roberto Martinez says that he is confident that highly promising left back Luke Garbutt will commit his future to Everton and welcomes the competition for places that exists in that area of the team.

The 21-year-old made his sixth appearance of the season for Everton in last night's 3-1 second-leg victory over Young Boys of Bern and offered more evidence of what the club will miss should he walk away as a free agent when his contract expires this summer.

Garbutt provided an assist for the Blues's second goal — a lovely sweeping move down the left that ended with Romelu Lukaku firing a first-time shot into the bottom corner — and he came within inches of laying on another goal in the second half but his low cross eluded Kevin Mirallas by a whisker.

Snapped up from Leeds United as a teenager, Garbutt is in his fifth year with the club and, having established himself as an England U21s regular, he is now pushing Leighton Baines and Bryan Oviedo hard for the first-place left-back berth with impressive displays whenever he has been picked.

Martinez is pleased with the defender's progress and sees him not only staying at Goodison long-term but also becoming a full international. Garbutt, however, is apparently seeking assurances over playing time having played third fiddle at times this season.

"[W]e want competition for places. We want a squad of players that anyone involved can come in and perform," Martinez told the Liverpool Echo. The left back position is a really strong one of ours; not just Leighton Baines but Bryan Oviedo, two full internationals, and I think Luke Garbutt has the potential to become a full international for England as well.

“He's still developing but, when you see him perform as assured and composed as he did last night, it shows he has no fear to compete against anyone for his competition. That's what we want.

“I do feel that a player like Luke is going to stay with us for the long term. But my only concern now is to look to see Luke fighting for his place.

"Whatever happens in the future I'm sure will be good for both parties,” the manager concluded.

 

Reader Comments (65)

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Patrick Murphy
1 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:10:10
He’s going to be a top player if he keeps his head right and isn’t swayed by his agent and move to the wrong club - Everton can’t afford to lose too many good young players and Luke seems to be the type we would want to keep in the squad.
Norman Merrill
2 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:09:46
Great news, the boy looks to have a great future, and in the blue shirt of Everton.
Keith Harrison
3 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:11:40
I seem to recall Roberto saying that Bainesy could play the Â’Philip LahmÂ’ role in midfield. How about playing him there, and leave the LB to Garbutt. Oviedo could play LW. Garbutt is like a Leighton with more pace and power.
Terry Downes
4 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:13:51
Stop talking and get him signed .
Andy Crooks
5 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:15:22
Garbutt is the new Duffy!
Darryl Ritchie
6 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:44:58
The last sentence could be telling.
Keith Harrison
7 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:52:46
Correct Darryl, it will be good for both parties - Baines and Oviedo.
John Keating
8 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:47:56
Martinez likes to play wide men, well so-called in our team! Anyway, why canÂ’t Garbutt be given a run at left back with Baines on the left side of midfield? Good cover for each other when either goes forward.

Similarly Oviedo/Coleman. Mirallas could be on the way out. McGeady, unfortunately hasn’t adapted too well. Could Baines or Oviedo playing wide midfield each side be any worse than McGeady and the, supposedly £7 million Lennon???

Aaron Lancaster
9 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:17:03
Even though IÂ’ve always appreciated Bainsey, IÂ’d rate Garbutt over him by comparison this season. If Baines form continues in this fashion our future would be brighter having a solid performer like Garbutt in our colors.

Oviedo also has been impressive this season so itÂ’s quite a good problem that we have...as long as Garbutt signs a new deal.

Brendan Fox
10 Posted 27/02/2015 at 19:58:17
Garbutt will likely only commit his future if he gets a good run of games between now and the end of the season. Time will tell if Roberto gives hi the game time to help Garbutt commit his future with the mighty blues!
Trevor Lynes
11 Posted 27/02/2015 at 20:01:39
It would be great to see Baines and Garbutt down the left as both can assist the attack. Whoever is played further up is a manager’s headache.

Until Luke improves his defensive side, I would try him in front of Baines. Oviedo could be a utility player covering for both positions

Mike Childs
12 Posted 27/02/2015 at 20:20:17
Why shouldn't Garbutt get a "play me as long as I'm not injured" contract as several of our 30-year-olds have one.
Bob Hannigan
13 Posted 27/02/2015 at 20:41:50
Extend him NOW!
Colin Glassar
14 Posted 27/02/2015 at 20:19:23
Triangulate the three of them!!! Garbutt LB, Baines LM, Oviedo LW, what's the problem? And all of them will be happy and will form The Holy Triangle.
Harvey Miller
15 Posted 27/02/2015 at 21:18:38
Well Baines could play the wing he's always been better going forward than defending.
Harvey Miller
16 Posted 27/02/2015 at 21:21:15
We so easily hail a new guy (and a home grown even more, which Garbutt is not) but after a couple of mistakes he is worse than garbage, can't do a thing. A young boy, how do you get yourself together after that kind of treatment. Only Rooney has survived but he left soon as he could.

So that's how it will for Barkley, no wonder he might think there could be a life somewhere else even if he loves EFC more than anything.

Baines could still be a very good wingback/winger.

Keith Harrison
17 Posted 27/02/2015 at 22:04:54
Harvey, where was Barkley mentioned here before your post? And Colin, stop re-gurgitating my posts...........LOL
Colin Glassar
18 Posted 27/02/2015 at 22:09:12
It was my idea first Keith, been saying it for ages. The Holy Triangle is here to stay.
Trevor Peers
19 Posted 27/02/2015 at 21:50:42
Harvey footballers get paid huge amounts of money to perform consistently and the supporters are entitled to voice their opinion; after all they pay their hard earned cash and expect to be entertained.

I agree some people go to far and it spills over into vile abuse which is totally unacceptable, I don't think this is problem peculiar to Everton though, in general the fans have been very patient after many false dawns. Rooney proved himself to be the real deal but as for the other players we have let go none of them have been successful I'm thinking of Rodwell and Jeffers as for Barkley I don't see him as even half as talented as Rooney IMO.

Trevor Peers
20 Posted 27/02/2015 at 22:12:44
Garbutt does looks an exiting prospect sign him up! would be tragic if he slipped through the net.
Mark Frere
21 Posted 27/02/2015 at 22:30:52
I do like, 'The Holy Triangle' idea, Colin, but I don't hold out much hope of it materialising. I just hope Baines can be moved into midfield to add a bit of creativity and make way for Garbutt at LB, with Oviedo as cover. I will be gutted if Garbutt is not plying his trade here next season, the lad oozes class.
Colin Glassar
22 Posted 27/02/2015 at 22:35:39
Probably not Mark but I'm going to get the name 'Holy Triangle' patented (or is it copywrited?) just in case.
Michael Penn
23 Posted 27/02/2015 at 22:53:20
I would love to see the Holy Triangle(R) but I'm sceptical that Martinez' comments increase the odds of us keeping Garbutt, sadly. Remember Martinez also said Lacina Traore had a "huge part to play" in our season and then we didn't see him again!
Trevor Peers
24 Posted 27/02/2015 at 23:18:22
Colin they would never match the Holy Trinity of Ball Kendall and Harvey. Best ever.
Dan Howard
25 Posted 28/02/2015 at 00:20:11
Great. LetÂ’s get him signed up.
Jamie Crowley
26 Posted 28/02/2015 at 03:11:24
I think I've said this before...

Play him.

Sign him.

Absolute class this kid.

Dan Howard
27 Posted 28/02/2015 at 05:03:48
Agreed. I only caught the match on TV but he looked brilliant from what I saw. He picked out Lukaku superbly for the second goal.
Ajay Gopal
28 Posted 28/02/2015 at 05:19:11
It is an embarrassment of riches for us in that position. As I had suggested on another thread, I would like LG to be signed up by Everton on a long term deal and then loaned out to a top/mid-tier European club (Spanish/German league) for a year by which time, Roberto can make up his mind on Baines and Oviedo's long term futures.
Steve Brown
29 Posted 28/02/2015 at 06:50:54
If we can sign Garbutt up, we'd have the future England left-back playing alongside the future England centre half. Both ooze class. We have to sign him.

The left side and central midfield have been problem areas for a while with out lack of creativity (unless the Darrenaissance continues), plus Baines's defensive game has declined. Move him upfield to create space for Oviedo and Garbutt.

Sam Hoare
30 Posted 28/02/2015 at 07:44:24
Unlike Dan Gosling, garbutt looks set to have a solid Premiership career ahead of him. I’d be surprised if he’s not worth 10m+ in about 4-5 years and as such it would be rather criminal to lose him for free (or for a tiny tribunal).

Trouble is that Martinez selects on reputation more than form so even when Baines is looking below par Oviedo and Garbutt hardly get a look in.

I reckon Luke see’s this and that’s why he’ll be off.

Paul Andrews
31 Posted 28/02/2015 at 08:00:45
I would play Garbutt in most games over the rest of the season. I think Baines has looked jaded over the recent months.

The secret is in judging when a player is approaching the decline in his career; I am far from saying Leighton is on the decline... but he will be soon.

It’s an absolute must we sign Garbutt up. In likening him stylewise to other left backs, Shaw went for £30 million, I believe; this kid will be a better player than Shaw in 12 months.

Ian Tunstead
32 Posted 28/02/2015 at 07:58:58
If Martinez isnÂ’t careful and keeps taking Garbutt for granted he will be off for sure. Garbutt needs to be playing week-in & week-out at such an important stage of his career and establishing himself.

The only way to do it realistically is to play him on the left wing. We need a decent winger with pace who can cross a ball; Garbutt ticks those boxes.

Garbutt is not as good defensively as Baines but Baines has proven to be ineffective on the wing so Garbutt should be tested there. There is no way Atsu should be playing a head of him!

And Barkley and Naismith shouldnÂ’t be getting accommodated there either. He could be another Bale in the making, or a right-sided Beckham but with pace.

Mike Allison
33 Posted 28/02/2015 at 09:26:41
Baines is class, and he'll be back to his best at some point. Oviedo is excellent, and is worth having in and around the side in a couple of different positions.

But right now, taking form, fitness, freshness and everything else into consideration, Luke Garbutt is our best left-back and should be played regularly over the next few weeks.

Joe Foster
34 Posted 28/02/2015 at 09:29:43
I believe he will leave making both parties happy. He will get more game time elsewhere and the club will get some money
Mike Allison
35 Posted 28/02/2015 at 09:40:56
The club won't get much money Joe, he's out of contract.
Joe Foster
36 Posted 28/02/2015 at 09:43:26
Correct Mike
Ray Roche
37 Posted 28/02/2015 at 09:46:21
Mike, is it not the case that we can also go to a tribunal for a fee should he decide to leave? Or at least, receive compensation for the player due to his career being "brought on" by Everton, despite his early years at Leeds.. His current situation is partly governed by the clauses contained in the tribunal when he left Leeds which states that the initial fee of £600k can rise depending on appearances. Maybe that's why he doesn't get picked....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/Everton/8243058.stm

James Newcombe
38 Posted 28/02/2015 at 09:56:33
Just for once Roberto, less talk more action!
Aidy Dews
39 Posted 28/02/2015 at 09:56:19
Young players like Garbutt need to be kept and given more of a chance. I know Baines is a good player and got a few years left in him still and Oviedo is decent as well but, for me, Garbutt needs to be second choice at LB and we should start using Oviedo further up the pitch.

I see people mentioning the Gosling situation and that Garbutt is the new Duffy but it will be worse to lose Garbutt! Good FB's are usually hard to come by and imo I already think Garbutt would get into a lot of Premier League sides now. He wouldn't just move on and drop down the leagues like Gosling did, he'll definitely make something of himself elsewhere and in the next couple of years. IF we get him signed up, we need to get him more and more involved and then eventually have him take over Baines.

Like Martinez says, we've potentially got an international FB on our books, so we'd be mad to let him just leave! Sooner or later, we will need someone to replace Baines and we've already got a ready made replacement at the club so let's do all we can to get him to sign.

Colin Glassar
40 Posted 28/02/2015 at 10:14:28
I like Ajay's idea of signing him to a long-term contract and then loaning him out for a season. Ajay prefers a middling European club, I'd like him to go to a Premier League club like WBA or Stoke where he won't be involved in a relegation struggle and we can see his progress on a weekly basis.
Phil Walling
41 Posted 28/02/2015 at 10:44:12
Six appearances and the kid is 'Holy'. Six mistakes and he will be 'Shite'. Gawd spare us from these knee-jerk merchants!

If he stays, he fights for a place. If he goes, he goes. Everton will still be in business next season.

Nick Entwistle
42 Posted 28/02/2015 at 10:57:26
I haven't been keeping up with the Garbutt situation. Why exactly is he not signing?
Brian Harrison
43 Posted 28/02/2015 at 10:56:39
Garbutt has impressed in every game he has played, and to not sign him on a long contract would be madness. I rate him ahead of Oviedo and the advantage he has over Baines is his height. I always feel that Baines is a little vulnerable to balls to the far post.

I see RM never misses a chance to tell us we have another England player in the making. Just shut up sign the kid give him the game time he wants and see how he develops.

Dick Brady
44 Posted 28/02/2015 at 11:01:49
Nick, many of us believe Luke Garbutt is reluctant to sign a new contract because he's simply not getting enough first team football. Sadly he's featured in just 6 games this season and only once in the Premier League.

Garbutt turns 22 this season and he's at age where he needs to be playing. Undoubtedly he has big ambitions which most likely include playing for England. He's got the potential to do that but he needs to be playing regular first-team football and at 22 he needs to start doing that sooner rather than later.

If Roberto cannot promise him more football at Everton – if Roberto can only offer him more time on the sidelines behind Baines & Oviedo – then you cannot really blame Garbutt for refusing a new contract with Everton and looking for another Premier League club which will offer him more football.

Roberto claims to love giving young players a chance but in 26 Premier League games this season he's only managed to play Garbutt once. That's simply not fair to a player who looks good enough to play every week. Surely Roberto can find more first team football for Garbutt?

Phil Walling
45 Posted 28/02/2015 at 11:09:55
Brian, Martinez has the bloody cheek to criticise the fans for putting young players under pressure. NOBODY does it better than he does with his phenomenally ridiculous overstated exaggerated embellishments!

Just like Barkley, this is a player of promise. Nothing more. At present.

Nick Entwistle
46 Posted 28/02/2015 at 11:20:06
Understood, Dick.

Maybe he sees the likes of Shaw and even Stones playing for England and thinks he is behind the curve. But then the lower leagues are littered with bright young Cademarteris.

And as he came in from another club, you're right, he wants to play and his current club don't give him that.

Given we'll finish roughly where we are, jeez, stick with the guy for the Arsenal game and the rest of the season. Play Baines in midfield to experiment, because right now he's best days at LB seem behind him.

Dick Brady
47 Posted 28/02/2015 at 12:48:47
To be fair Roberto has a very difficult situation because Baines, although below par this season, is a very good left back and has been the best in Europe in his prime. I'm not saying Roberto needs to drop Baines and play Garbutt from now on, all I'm suggesting is that Garbutt is given more opportunities.

One single Premier League appearance this season is unacceptable. Surely Garbutt can come on as a substitute here and there; surely home fixture's against the lesser teams in the Premier League should be an ideal opportunity to give Garbutt a start.

Dick Brady
48 Posted 28/02/2015 at 12:56:44
We lost John Ruddy because Moyes wouldn’t give him any first team opportunities. Moyes knew John Ruddy was a good keeper, in fact Moyes tipped him to play for England when he signed, but Ruddy never got a chance at Everton and he was forced to move to get regular football.

At Norwich, Ruddy developed quickly and soon fulfilled Moyes’s prediction of playing for England. Now of course Everton are stuck with Tim Howard while many of us would love to have John Ruddy at Everton. Don’t let the same thing happen with Garbutt.

Nick Entwistle
49 Posted 28/02/2015 at 12:58:25
If it means losing him then play him as often as possible. We let one young defender go and now he plays for Germany.

Baines, like most of the squad, has been a passenger this season so I'm none too bothered if he has bench time from now on.

He looks class this Garbutt; if he leaves, it's just rank mismanagement – something needs to be done to keep him at the club. If game time is it, then give him what he needs.

Dave Abrahams
50 Posted 28/02/2015 at 13:16:38
I like Garbutt and he has the potential to be a very good player but that's all it is at the moment: potential. Nevertheless, he should be signed on by now.

It isn't all one way; the lad has been offered a contract and as of yet hasn't accepted it. I've said previously on here maybe he and his agent have other irons in the fire.

Pete Edwards
51 Posted 28/02/2015 at 13:23:04
He’ll be waiting a long time to get in to the full international side too, regardless of if he stays or moves to another club, mainly due to the fact that there is another Luke playing (sometimes) not too far away from Goodison who every man and his dog wanted to replace Baines at engurlands LB as soon as he signed for Man Utd, even though he has done nothing but have a couple of good games for Southampton. Knock Martinez for "picking his favourites" but it’s a problem everywhere for the majority of clubs and international teams.
Pete Edwards
52 Posted 28/02/2015 at 13:34:25
Dave, spot on. As good as he’s been in flashes, mainly going forward and putting a ball in, defending isn’t yet one of his strong points but he has the potential to be a very good player. It would however be madness to lose him, I agree with some other posters that maybe a few games at left wing until the end of the season would be a wise move.
James Stewart
53 Posted 28/02/2015 at 14:20:51
Baines has been a long way off the best in Europe for awhile. Garbutt on form is the best LB we have so play him. Baines needs to up his game, Oviedo too.
Brian Cleveland
54 Posted 28/02/2015 at 14:08:11
Perhaps he can be used similarly to the way Coleman was initially used, further forward. Coleman was very dodgy defensively at first, and I thought he was a bit of a liability there, but after stints further forward getting used to the prem, he also became a better defender, and now he is one of our more consistent performers in his role.

I think Garbutt still has things to learn defensively and could benefit from the same kind of treatment, thus giving him the game time he needs to want to stay.

Will Firstbrook
55 Posted 28/02/2015 at 16:20:10
Let's hope Garbutt sees it the same way...
Len Hawkins
56 Posted 28/02/2015 at 17:29:11
Roberto keeps bigging up the youngsters yet he is as bad as Moyes at giving them a chance. A blind man on a flying horse can see how well Garbutt has played when given the chance yet he drops him for the old faithful at the first opportunity. Are there no 36-year-old full backs he can swap him for?
Wayne Smyth
57 Posted 28/02/2015 at 17:53:39
Len, he’s not as bad as Moyes by a long stretch, although he’s not nearly as good as I would like either.

I think Garbutt and Browning deserve more playing time, but under Moyes I doubt either would have got a chance at all.

Remember the Leeds cup result? A few mistakes, 1 game lost and Moyes said he’d play his best 11 for the remainder of the season even if they were tired. Barkley was sacked off to the reserves for 6 months every time he gave the ball away.

I remember Moyes would also bring in very average players like McFadden and Straq on loan and play them ahead of youngsters who need game time. Martinez’s short-term loans are generally superior to what we have and improve us....or end up being permanent transfers.

Martinez also seems more willing to forgive younger players who mistakes....although in Howard’s case I think that faith and flexibility is badly misplaced.

Jay Harris
58 Posted 28/02/2015 at 19:35:21
I remember the days when, if a player came in because of injury to the regular, then if he played well enough he would stay in and the player who got injured would just have to be patient until his chance came again. RM does not adopt this philosophy at all.

He seems to want to piss players off by insisting that the senior player will come back in when fit or nearly fit again. What a way to demotivate the second string.

Brian Hennessy
59 Posted 28/02/2015 at 19:53:21
As has been suggested by several posters here the answer to this problem is simple, play Baines and Garbutt.

It's not as though we have anyone who has made the left midfield position their own and both Baines and Garbutt look equally comfortable defending or attacking.

I can't see it happening though, Roberto seems to have his mind made up, as he had the perfect opportunity to try this with Pienar being injured.

Baines will play every game unless he is injured and he would prefer to play Naismith or Barkley out wide than Garbutt, doesn't make sense to me.

Björn Håll
60 Posted 28/02/2015 at 21:20:20
I've said it before. To compete with the top, you have to change between games and adapt to opposition strengths and weaknesses. This guy clearly can play ball and gives us alternatives. Sign him for life and show him his importance to the team.
Harold Matthews
61 Posted 28/02/2015 at 22:20:44
Like Baines, a bit dodgy when defending, especially in the air but can clear the ball with both feet. Quick, no nonsense attacker who will feed the boys in the box. Definitely worth hanging on to. His dead ball technique is tremendous.
Jamie Crowley
62 Posted 28/02/2015 at 22:49:17
Phil W -

You say, "six mistakes and he will be shite"...

I don't think so.

I think this kid is very similar to Stones. Evertonians I've come to learn over the years are an incredibly intelligent footballing collection of human beings. I think the majority of them see the immense talent in this kid and will give him the requisite patience needed for a younger kid.

Very similar to the way Evertonians approached John Stones IMO. They saw the talent and knew it had to be harvested.

Phil Sammon
63 Posted 01/03/2015 at 04:17:40
We were getting absolutely ploughed down the left flank in the first 20 mins against Young Boys. Garbutt has a sweet left foot. He is currently 'decent', with the potential to be very good. However, right now, he's more Paul Konchesky than he is Leighton Baines.
Jim Hardin
64 Posted 02/03/2015 at 15:43:13
In a team struggling with fitting square pegs into round holes why on earth would anyone suggest making another? Baines is not a left mid, Oviedo can and does play the spot on occasion, as well as several others, for Costa Rica. Baines is the best left back on the team period. Leave him there. Why would he change and have to try to learn when Garbutt could more easily be made to transition to mid if he wanted to stay?

Fact is, he has been offered a contract but hasn't signed it. He is leaving unless Everton wins the Europa League so Garbutt will get some CL experience to enhance his resume.

I actually don't think left back is a problem for Everton (Baines is the leading assist man in the EPL from the position after all) and Oviedo is excellent and Hibbert can even play there in an emergency. I would rather see Osman and Pienaar back in the formation with their passing abilities than a holy triangle with two of the players playing out of position.

Rick Tarleton
65 Posted 05/03/2015 at 19:49:31
If Martinez takes us down, there'll be a lot fleeing and Garbutt will be one of the more prized of the players.

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