Branthwaite reportedly ‘wants to leave’ Everton

Branthwaite has asked to leave, according to reports.

There's more players who want to leave than want to stay.

Ramping up the exits now it's getting close to 30th June - won't be many left come first friendly game 🤷

Mind you it's a basket case club - who'd wanna stay let alone join ffs 🤷

Bungling Bills Basket-case Blues Beyond Broken Before Bramley Moore

Commence Operation Certain Relegation

At this rate we will be hard pressed to put 11 players out against Fulham!

I'm sure he'll come back to us as a 35 year old after achieving everything in the game elsewhere.

'' 107 year old Everton chairman Bill Kenwright welcomes back club legend to his spiritual home''

Private Frazier - 'We're Doomed!'

Lance Corporal Jones - 'Don't Panic!'

Which camp are we all in?

Andrew, I think our club is more Captain Mainwaring: "Don't tell them your name Pike!". Fucking clueless idiots.

My view on players who want to leave, is let them leave, but please do not take on Phil Jones as Branthwaites replacement. That would be a disaster.

The squad needed a shake up and it looks like that's happening. It's down to Dyche and Thelwell now to recruit well

How many players can we loan in? Because we sure as hell can't afford to buy enough to replace a mass exodus.

If a player doesn't want to be here, get the best possible price and move on. Of course this being Bill's Everton, we're never entirely sure who instigates the transfers, unhappy player or cash-strapped club.

This isn't really "news" He said months ago he was open to staying at PSV and would see what happens at Everton. He isn't a local, came in for about a year during which he played a few times with mixed results then was carted off to PSV. So it's not like he has a deep attachment to the club or that the club have made it clear they have big plans for him -- short-term. It may well be that as ever we have to take whatever money we can get for anyone in which case he may be off. If that's not the case then Sean needs to decide whether he thinks Branthwaite is a) first team ready or b)can be convinced to stick around a while longer in the wings.

The only feckers that want to hang around are the two feckers we want rid of. At this rate Bill and Mosh will be our centre-half pairing for the Fulham visit. Mitrovic will be licking his lips.

Find young, unknown, promising talent at economy prices then loan them out to gain experience and they won't want to come back. How many of these have we had other than Branthwaite and Nkounkou this year.

I was going through the transfers listed under the Players section at the top looking for the name of the young keeper we signed from Morecambe, Crilihy(?) I think, and I was surprised at how many young players we have signed and the few who have made it, going back to Sambou from Coventry. Those few who did didn't hang around long at Everton and I wonder if it started with that great "Once a blue always a blue" and "I'd have given them another season maybe two before moving on" Rooney.

I think all we have in the 1st team squad now are Simms (ex Man City junior?), Calvert-Lewin and Holgate, leaving aside Branthwiate.

NB; the Rooney reference is more from a timing point of view rather than he was signed from another club.

Has he? Or is he the latest FFP sacrificial lamb? If that's not the case, then you'd hope that he could be convinced with a shot at regular first team appearances this season. I just think that he'll end up being worth a lot more than the ï¿¡5-6m we reportedly quoted to PSV.

He said only last week his ideal was to go back to Everton and play, or certainly I remember reading that?

Surely he's going to get a chance preseason, he'd suit Dyche's approach I imagine and given his injury record (good) once in I can't imagine him not playing.

So I'd file under 'utter rubbish', and move on!

PK (#3) - I heard the same, Pat.

I could never understand why he was out on loan for so long - a star in the making, and should have been with us all season.

It must be so toxic at the club right now, when the lad is asking to leave. Other teams know how good he is, and will come swooping in for him.

No decent player wants to stay at Everton, and no decent player wants to come to Everton.

May EFC Rest In Peace

Robert,

This was one quote from 3 weeks ago:

"That is always difficult to say as a professional football player.

"I am under contract with Everton, so it is their right not to want to sell me, of course. I am absolutely open to staying at PSV, but the clubs have to decide together."

Then 12 days ago he said:

"I think every kid's goal is to play in the Premier League. That would be my main ambition. Just to solidify myself in a team in the Premier League at Everton and play as many games as I can."

Sounds like he isn't throwing a fit saying "I want to leave," and he points out it's up to Everton as he is under contract. But on the other hand he doesn't want to close doors if the Premier League dream isn't on the cards now.

I wonder if the Guardian will do an expose linking his "mood change" to Usmanov?

Somehow the club has to make itself a more attractive proposition for the type of players we want. I'm not saying they're rats but they're fleeing a sinking ship.

At the moment it's looking like its heading for 15mins before chucking out time at the local nightclub and there's only desperate measures left to pull. (Edited a couple of times before posting in the interests of political correctness!)

If he has said this then it's obvious someone somewhere (maybe someone very close by), has tapped his agent up with what's on offer on their much greener pitch.

In my opinion, he will be better than Stones, given a decent chance. I was hoping it would be with us.

Not less than 㿀M, plus 20% of any future sale and 㾶M based on 50 appearances.

James @16,

The only figure I've seen is 㾻M. Where did you see such a low figure?

I've yet to see an accurate comment from Football Insider so I'm not going to get excited about this one.

Who knows, but, if he is on 㾶k a week with us and has an agent bending his ear about what he could be earning at much more competitive and "stable" clubs, then it is likely this young man's head will be doing overtime – that is just the way it is a lot of the time.

If he stays with us I bet he will be offered an improved contract.

I see Coady is heading to Leicester.

Can't see it to be honest. I really don't think, after letting Mina go and clearly wanting rid of Holgate, that we would leave ourselves short by selling Branthwaite.

I expect him to play this season. He will generate a bigger fee for us next summer if he plays and does well.

This kid will be a superb player. This is exactly the type of player we should be building our defence around.

When he makes the occasional mistake, we have to support him. His ability and headroom to improve is huge.

If indeed he does want to leave, then shame on the club, the infrastructure and everything connected to the club: it's one thing to have to sell your best players to further their careers (Rooney, Lukaku, Fellaini, Stones, Arteta) but to be unattractive to hot potential that we already own… gimme a break.

Is there anything positive about being an Evertonian right now??

Ben,

New ground on the horizon which we can only hope will bring us good times other than this – Sweet FA Ben!

Even Everton will recognise that there is a player here who could be worth 㿔M+ in a few years time.

He's on a long contract and I'd be furious if we let him go for anything less than 㿅M.

Surely even we can't fuck this up! Give the lad a new contract, play him every week, then cash in on him in a season or two.

This seems so obvious but...

What Ben said @25.

A star that we need to keep.

The thought of him leaving and Holgate staying depresses me.

If he wants more money and a chance of success, he will go.

That's the way it is nowadays. We can't make him play, contract or not. There is no club or fan affiliation. Cash is king.

#21 Ray - Football Insider who are one of just a couple of sites carrying the story. I don't know how reliable they are…

This is about the most depressing news I've read recently. For this club, that's some statement.

Between Alan Hansen like (Coady is our future) fans, dinosaur managers, and mismanagement instigated crisis, we just don't offer kids a pathway.

We could be the UK's Dortmund… well, okay, maybe not, but we did once attract Stones, Deulofeu and Lukaku.

A gamble on youth is our only way back. Without it, that's the point? Do everything to convince him to stay.

Apparently its an approach by Moyes (probably through Black Bill).

Branthwaite is the one lad I have high hopes for above all others. He has the size and the ability to be a top class Premier League player.

We have already lost Mina, Coady and look like sending Holgate out on loan so there is a real opportunity for the lad.

Offer Keane to Moyes for 㿀M instead and that can go in the kitty.

Came 2nd in the league, won silverware and played in Europe while at PSV… so not the biggest surprise if this turns out true.

The club seem to be giving him a high profile on social media.

I'd be surprised and disappointed if this was true.

Can Lonergan play any position across the back four or is he purely a keeper? We may have to improvise it seems. Even the players we loan out don't want to come back to this shit show. Someone please tell me something positive!!

I cannot understand this love affair with Branthwaite, he had one decent game against Chelsea under Benitez and scored the equaliser.

Wasn't he left out after that game? Far too slow for the Premier League. Having watched him at Blackburn he's a ball-watcher and that's Keane's problem.

Branthwaite's first game for Everton at Wolves was a total disaster, certainly at fault for two of the three goals conceded.

Everton need experience to keep us from the drop;
Branthwaite is not the answer.

All just clickbait talk by a source with absolutely zero reliability nor contacts in the game, just somewhere that uses Twitter to boost traffic.

If something reliable is brought up, then it's worth talking about. Currently, nothing to see here.

He has not asked to leave.

John #37,

He's certainly not slow mate. What are you watching?

Next you'll say he's short!

John @ 37.

The biggest load of garbage I have read in a long time.

From what planet do you hail?

Firstly, Happy Birthday to Jarrad, 21 today.

He will want to be playing football regularly like last season. I think, if he was a guaranteed first-choice starter for us, he would embrace it. I'm not convinced Dyche will bet the ranch on him this season as a regular first choice.

Dyche was a centre-back so will have a clear idea what he wants; it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he has a central defender he's scouted for months he wants to sign to partner Tarkowski.

Branthwaite is quality and will grow into a top-class defender; it will be a crying shame if it's not with Everton.

So Branthwaite wants to leave now?! I'm guessing this is the same source with no connection to the club who said Onana was miserable and desperate to leave last week.

John @ 37, with fans like you who needs enemies.

Your stop-gap OAP Army plan might stave off relegation for one season. Then what?

Sad that you write off kids like this.

Andrew 36 I am positive you are overreacting. Check back after the end of June.

John, you've upset some of the natives, you've dared to go against the majority view.

I happen to agree with most of what you say; I doubt that Dyche will want to start the season with a relatively inexperienced defender.

Our priority this season is to stay up, forget Top 8 and cup wins, staying up from where we are now will be a feat.

Tell him he's going nowhere. If he moans, stick him as seventh sub at Mansfield Town on a wet and windy Monday night. If we sell, 㿀 million minimum.

Ridiculous comment, John @37.

It is well known that Jarrad is absolutely rapid for his size. He is young and still has a lot to learn but don't worry if he stays you can get your kicks by knocking him and bitching about him every time he touches the ball.

If you don't, fear not – we have many other 'fans' who will absolutely relish his demise in a blue shirt if he doesn't immediately emulate Ratcliffe.

I'll sit on both sides of the fence with this one.

For those who think he is the next big hope, I would point out that he's only played 9 times for Carlisle, 10 times for Everton and 10 times for Blackburn (loan).

27 games for PSV.

Obviously he has great potential, but at 21, still very young for a centre-back. Be patient.

I think the PSV experience will have been great for him and his development. But then I always hear those who say the Dutch league is no comparison.

I suppose we see where this goes. With Mina gone, Holgate seemingly gone, Coady released from his loan and rumours about Keane, unless the manager has options lined up, I can't see Branthwaite going anywhere.

Either that or I'm polishing my boots.

He was sent out on loan to PSV to gain experience, he'll have Tarkowski beside him, a perfect partner.

He turned 21 today, a left-sided centre-back, 6ft-5in, plenty of pace, good in the air, and will be a huge addition, let's get real.

We've got rid of Mina, Coady and trying to move on Holgate, he's under contract until 2025. Tell the redshite, Man Utd and Moyes where to go. If he's allowed go, we really are rock bottom.

Hopefully given the source of this rumour it's a load of boll@@ks, whether he is good enough to be considered for regular 1st team selection is nobody's call but Dyche's to make.

If he's not deemed good enough by Dyche and his team for regular 1st team starts and is not willing to stay to earn and fight for his place because he's guaranteed 1st team football elsewhere then fine but the buying club will have to pay handsomely for his services, north of £30m if they want him or jog on

Mina's gone. Coady gone. Holgate going. This lad will be sold for a pittance cos the transfer guru will be involved the fecking fat waste of skin. That leaves us with the God awful Keane and a year older and slower Tarkowski.

Everton that. Long term planning etc etc.

Really can't see this being true. If Holgate goes we're down to 4 CBs so you'd think he'd get a decent number of games. Keane is a liability so start Tarks and JB at the back. I'd also get rid of Keane for anything we can get and bring in an experienced back up on loan.

Am I alone in thinking that the best way forward given the repeatedly appalling antics of M&K that have made paying anymore than peanuts for anyone at all would be to sell more proven dead-wood from the dead-wood forest now long planted at Finch Farm so that we might just be able to attract a very young, tall, powerful, pacey defender for a pittance from the likes of Carlisle United?

This is exactly where slobber chops gets involved to save the club again. Bill will already have told Moshiri and Branthwaite that due to unforeseen circumstances ( firefighting ) he will need to be sold to the highest bidder.
We can now expect a repeat of the Rooney saga where Bill cries over the phone to various people in order to gain some sympathy and then duly accepts an offer of 25 million from man Utd. However, due to Bill's amazing business acumen we also get Phil Jones thrown in as part of the deal for $50 grand per week.

Momentum is everything in sport and we have to do something to reverse this downward constant drip of bad news and stories.

Unfortunately, Thelwell and Dyche are not the most glamorous pairing to attract players but they are hindered by all the boardroom shit that is polluting the club in the national media.

It goes two ways, Thelwell pulls a rabbit out of the hat to signal we are on the up, let's say Kudus, but it's unlikely, so that means picking players from the Championship and from abroad who just want a Premier League wage.

However, if Branthwaite wants to leave, the bidding should start at 㿀 mil.

Dave. Is that just for one of Branthwaite's legs?

It would cost us 㿀 million to bring in a washed-up centre-half from one of our Premier League buddies like Spurs – never mind losing one who has a bright future.

Agree with Pete, if we sell, it has to be for a very high figure like 㿔M. He is an excellent prospect and a candidate to be an England player in the next years. He needs at least a season with us playing regularly.

I can understand it if he wants to go, he has only ever known turmoil at our club and has just had a fantastic season on the continent. However, if we have any sense (which we all know we don't!) we will keep, develop and sell for major profit in 1-2 years, he has a contract.

We probably won't do the above though and flog for buttons in a few weeks. I feel even more despondent than ever right now.

When it comes to a valuation of Branthwaite, we should bear in mind John Stones's current market value.

In other words, Danny, he has got a lot more chance of being a first team regular at Everton.

I'd say so, Tony.

Nick, from what I saw, Tarkowski's game wasn't about pace. Playing what we now call a low block, it is about positional awareness and organisation. 30 isn't old for a centre-back.

And the emphasis on block. I read an article somewhere (can't remember where). He had the highest number of blocks (body on the line). In the top 6 for clearances and top 5 for aerial challenges won.

And he's not bad at connecting with that deep cross to the back post, either to score or get it in the danger area.

Branthwaite would do well to play alongside him.

Probably get slaughtered for this but I'd ask Mina if he would be prepared to come back on a 1-year contract with reduced wages – instead of 𧴰k a week, offer him 㿲/80k with an automatic 2nd year triggered if or when he plays 20 plus games.

We are just starting to look light in the centre-back area if we mange to offload Holgate, and Branthwaite isn't ready for 30 plus Premier League matches.

Branthwaite should be first choice next season alongside Tarkowski. Hopefully this one is nonsense. I think the only reason he'd be keen to leave is either to a Champions League club or to get game time. We're exactly the level of club he should be at and we should be able to give him exactly what he wants.

With what looks like becoming a small squad next season, I also think loaning out Holgate is madness. His wages aren't costly, we get no useful money for the loan, and his versatility provides experienced cover in 3-4 positions.

Note the date…
Note the protagonist…
Note the reasons…

Game, Set and Match, Billy Liar?

Feels eerily reminiscent yet some clowns still think he's a saviour.

Back to square zero with Billy Bullshit.

Staggering how many people here have just basically gone ‘Football Insider said what?!!! We're doomed. A joke of a club, typical Everton etc…' about ten to every one person saying ‘Football Insider is pure clickbait, don't worry about it…'

Each to their own and I suppose there's no actual football or signings to chat about so it passes the time but the eagerness for some blues to pile in on the club based on absolute mince is mad.

Branthwaite starting again for the English U21s against Germany U21s and so far keeping a clean sheet (2-0) in the 75th minute. Don't sell him.

Ajay,

Jarred had a pretty disappointing game for me.

Put in a couple of decent blocks but he was lost a couple of times and looked short on pace. He also did a good imitation of Michael Keane with his lack of concentration.

I'm very disappointed because I really like the lad and want him to stay but, on today's evidence, he is not ready for the Premier League.

By contrast, Garner came on midway through the second half and looked really solid. Good link-up play and passing.

Jay @70,

The official website said he had a great game? I still believe he should be given a chance beside Tarkowski.

Mina and Coady are gone, and with Holgate looking like he's on his way out. Why would we sell an England U21 international, and have to try and buy an inferior replacement?

Jay, sounds like some of his early Everton performances, to be honest, at times he looked miles off it with his concentration levels in some of the games I watched him.

He was good against Chelsea and popped up with the equaliser, but I would reserve judgement on him being a starter from the off, even if he has had a decent season in the Dutch league.

I think Dyche will give him a chance in the friendlies and take it from there.

He's just turned 21, and played less than 50 professional club games. He started in an England shirt against a (very snide) Germany team. Not sure how many other centre-backs had the world at their feet at that age.

And he has not asked for a transfer.

Christy,

I would not advocate selling him. I still believe he has tons of potential but I was concerned about his game today as he was constantly second to almost every ball and wandered off into space and left his man free on a number of occasions.

I particularly watched his game today because I was really hoping he would do well and show what he's learned at PSV but it wasn't to be.

Danny @63…

Tarkowski, not only most blocks of all players, but twice the number of the next best!

Where would we be without him last season? I think he'd be like an on-pitch coach for Jarrad.

Another day, another round of whingeing on ToffeeWeb...

The "glass half-empty" brigade are now winding themselves up over half-arsed speculation from an unreliable source about what a youth player who didn't play a minute for the club last season and is unproven in the Premier League may have said (or not).

This is then spun out into entirely fictitious transfer talk with made-up prices, all of which show just what a disaster the club is, why we've already gone down before a ball is kicked and yada yada yada. "You couldn't make it up" but you have anyway.

Seriously folks, this is embarrassing.

Agree 100% Chris James.

“Nobody wants to sign for us, Nobody wants to stay with us! We are doomed!”

All based on some unreliable internet site, probably controlled by a Kopite.

And some fans sometimes wonder why “nobody listens to us!”

Chris 76 and Karl 77. Spot on.

I'm all for having a go at this club for the right reasons. But absolutely destroying the club and crying into my Danka bedspread because of some daft article on Football Insider with no direct quotes?

I'll pass thanks.

Phil #75,

I really like Tarkowski - but although he's a good brave, fist-pumping leader, I'm not convinced he's an organiser for Branthwaite to learn from.

I very much hope that we keep Branthwaite (I'd much rather we sell Onana) but I'd also like to see us sign a Mina-type centre-back in addition – someone with organisational qualities to complement Branthwaite's obvious (but raw) qualities.

Personally, I think a Mina replacement is our absolute top priority after the centre-forward position. Everything else we can just about make do (or recruit very cheaply to patch things up).

I agree, Robert #79.

The spine of the team is so important. If only Mina and Calvert-Lewin hadn't been so injury-prone, the season would have been so different.

An influential central defender and a prolific striker are vital signings for us. Otherwise, we are in for much the same as last season.

At this time of year, there is always speculation about who is leaving and who might be coming in, at the moment more out goings than players coming in.

If the rumours of Branthwaite wanting to leave are true, then there is no point in keeping a player who wants away, just make sure we get a decent price and a 20% sell-on clause in case he turns into the player some believe he will be.

With both Mina and Coady leaving and with rumours of Holgate possibly going to Sheffield Utd, we will have to move quickly to cover those losses. Lots for Sean Dyche to decide when he returns to Finch Farm, with Dele Alli returning as well as possibly Gomes and Gbamin, it will be interesting to see what he does with these players.

I am sure both Gomes and Gbamin can return to their loan clubs, but I think Dele Alli is a completely different problem. After what happened at Besiktas, I doubt that too many clubs would be interested in taking him on loan.

Also, a few youngsters are leaving the club. I do question our youth development, as not many in the last few years have been good enough.

There are plenty of transfer deals going through, but nothing from Everton. I think Thelwell and fat boy are still on sun beds in the Caribbean.

Pointless speculating any move for players atm.

As always with Bill at the helm, we will be up late on deadline day watching us scrape together cast-offs.

You're right, Brian, and I suspect they'll be keen to get Keane off the books too (loan or low fee) to reduce the wage bill. That would leave us with just Branthwaite, Tarkowski and Godfrey (with Mykolenko, Welch and possibly Coleman as cover).

So we do need another centre-back and I hope it's in the Mina vein. As you say, Andrew, with a fit Mina and Calvert-Lewin in the side over the past 2 seasons we probably wouldn't have had relegation fights.

One player I thought might be a Dyche-type signing at centre-back has just left Liverpool on loan to Aberdeen. Rhys Williams, age 22. He could develop into a good player.

I also watched the Under-21 game and it has to be said, Branthwaite was a bit underwhelming, he did get caught out positionally a couple of times and he was outpaced several times by an admittedly very nippy German striker.

But we can't judge one game. The likes of Keane and Holgate, we know what we will get and it's not going to change from its current modest level. With Branthwaite, I sense there is potential for development.

That said, I'd swap him for Bisseck, the German centre-back and captain who was the stand-out player in a surprisingly poor German side.

I agree, Garner looked neat and tidy when he came on, but there is a hell of a lot of competition for places in midfield and attack. There is a lot of top Premier League experience in this side and they are in with a real shout of winning it.

Jay 74 and others.

I watched the match last night also. Specifically Jarrad. And can only disagree with most of your analysis of his performance.

First half, he was completely in control of his job. Imperious even. Only on 3 occasions in the match was he second best, and on two of those occasions he got a toe on the ball. However, each of those occasions involved him turning back into the space behind him.

Hard to know from watching last night how fast he is in a straight line (though the coaches will know obviously), but he is slow to turn. A high block, or getting sucked into a turn-and-go doesn't suit him.

Yet. He is young, and raw. But as calm on the ball (maybe calmer) than John stones at his age. Good ball control. Good passer if the ball Very good defending in the air, and at 6'-5" left-footed, and ours, we would be nuts to let him go now.

He will be, like our other tall, talented, young, sometimes not always concentrating,and very raw, but full of potential player in our squad, and will play at the highest level.

It's now, for me, all about managing hopes and expectations - ours more so than his. We have way too many on here who don't know, or don't have the patience to understand the difference between the two.

And patience will be required if we play him next season. He will get beaten. Several times. And some of those occasions will cost us goals. Like every other player on the pitch.

Nick (67),

If anyone on ToffeeWeb hasn't read the link on Nick's post or don't remember the article when it was first written, I ask you to have a read.

It's long but portrays the way Kenwright has run this club since he became chairman, and shows that the club was in dire financial straights when Wayne Rooney was sold, in fact, that transfer saved Everton from going bankrupt.

Bryan @86,

While I agree he has potential and we would be mad to let him go, especially for a low fee, can I suggest the main reason he looked good on the ball is that Germany, astonishingly, didn't bother pressing, pretty much at all except a bit in the last 15 or so minutes?

It was all very bizarre, almost as though they had given up, especially after the first goal. It might be a different story in a Premier League game when he can expect a lot less time on the ball.

To be fair, defenders can always look exposed with a well-timed through ball. I thought Bisseck had a good game but Archer left him and his other centre-back for dead on the first goal. Never seen Archer play before but he sure looks like he has a turn of foot.

The German I felt especially sorry for was their left-back. Madueke had him on toast.

I'm with Keith @ 73. I too know for a fact that he has not asked to leave. Just the same usual piece of shit reporting from some no mark rag, whoever Football Insider may be. Jeez, if I said to them I was about to sign for Real Madrid they would no doubt print it!

"if I said to them I was about to sign for Real Madrid they would no doubt print it!"

Aw, don't leave, Rob. Please!

You are under contract Rob. No tapping yourself up.

Brent, the temptation is just too great to resist. I'm onto Football Insider now to give them the breaking news. Real Madrid find new goalkeeper to replace Thibaut Courtois!

Dale, I haven't kicked a ball in anger for about twenty years, but Football Insider don't need to know that.

Rob, we signed you to kick ass not balls.

Brian @86, excellent, measured analysis and pretty much sums up my sentiments. Sadly there will be too many "fans" who will pounce on those inevitable mistakes, they can't help themselves.

If anyone is questioning this lads abilities you don't have to go too far back to remember his excellent and stoic performances for the first team as a 19 year old, thrown completely in at the deep end. The lad is going all the way to the top I tells ya.

Nothing surprises me at Everton these days.

So many poor decisions made by so many people especially the hierarchy that have plunged the club into the bottom rung of the Premier League far too often.

We cannot afford to let people like Branthwaite go if at all possible. The defenders available are susceptible, to say the least, and this lad looks like someone who could step up and solidify that back line.

However, what do we know? What goes on behind the scenes is open to speculation and in the end, it's the manager who makes the choice on matchday and if he says Branthwaite isn't worthy of selection ahead of what we have, then on his head be it.

Keane and Tarkowski were his at Burnley and I suppose he will give them the nod for another season.

How will we cope?

I still remember the last time I saw him in a blue shirt - his wonderful performance against Brentford.

Let's just start high £80M.

He has the potential to be top class but he can't afford to make mistakes.

He reminds me of John Terry, only a far nicer person which makes a lesser defender.

Win at all costs, that's the mentality of world class players.

Jay (70) - I agree with your assessment of Branthwaite against Germany; he got outwitted a couple of times and left for dust. There's a lot of potential there but he is not the finished article yet - not should he be. I'd like to see him given the chance to thrive at Everton, but every player has a price.

Justin (98) - 㿼 million… and he reminds you of John Terry? I don't know which of those two statements I disagree with more, but it's close.

Garner struggled at times in the game v Portugal today, and his heading seemed to find a Portuguese shirt every time, but he was very good in the second half, especially in the last fifteen minutes. He'll be starting again in the Semi-Final though, as Aarons is now suspended so Ben Johnson or Luke Thomas will probably be filling in at left-back.

Brian 86 Mark 88.

I don't know what game you watched but Branthwaite's heat map must have been doused with urine, never moved more than a couple of feet and when he did he lost possession, I timed his average on the ball as two seconds he never put any effort in.

Since the first half of the first game in the Under-21s, Garner has played right-back and I think Branthwaite has played one game against Germany; both have looked very ordinary. Branthwaite looks like a basketball player who doesn't like football but had to fill in. Garner at stages in the Portugal game looked clueless.

If we have to rely on either of those two for most of the season, then God help us. I've seen some poor displays from players over the years but Garner and Branthwaite would be in the top ten.

Andrew 99, Garner looked good in the last 15 mins because Portugal were shooting in and he couldn't hide; he's no full-back, Carsley must be playing him because of injuries.

Paul (101),

I think Carsley is playing Garner at right full-back because he doesn't want an attacking full-back; he seems to want to leave Madueke in space one v one against the opposition full-backs.

And Garner is pretty good in terms of positional discipline and organisation, and when you have attacking options like Madueke, Gordon, Gibbs-White – with progressive midfielders like Ramsey and Angel Gomes – then you don't have to rely on your full-backs to demand the ball or take risks with it.

Hang the NOT FOR SALE sign on Branthwaite!
…. or regret it later!

Rob #93, so what do you kick in anger these days?

I know there's gotta be something.

We are talking about two young players aged 21 and 22.

They are not ready made and haven't played a lot of first-team football. Yet we have judged them already?

I'll wait and see on Branthwaite. He looks solid enough from the little I have seen of him.

I keep saying, Garner is very comfortable on the football, he's not scared of it like some that we've been used to. He also likes to play forward if it's on.

Finished article right now? Probably not. As a centre-back, you won't see Branthwaite mature until he is around 28. Garner as a midfielder around 25 or 26.

Danny 105,

We haven't got the time to wait on either player for that long. We need established pros and right now. The worry is as the squad is so threadbare that we don't have the cash to buy anyone of sufficient skill to improve the team.

One thing I've noticed is more and more the amount of one-footed players in all positions is alarming, even the most simple of tasks they won't use the weaker foot and have the turning power of a bus.

Strikers are missing easy chances because they are totally one-footed. Never bothered me when I played, I was two-footed, good on either side, never gave it a second thought.