Is Tarkowski the Dependable losing his touch at the heart of Everton's defence?

If Branthwaite is healthy, then yes, it's O'Brien and Jarrad in the middle. Can't do that however if you don't have higher quality right and left backs which we don't.

Tarky's been fairly solid but he's good for a howler every once in awhile at the absolute worst time.

This is all a moot point as O'Brien will stay at the RB position until we fill it with a quality attacking defender.

Great piece, Micheal!

I think it's becoming clear now how Tarkowski's form drops off a lot when he plays with Keane (not blaming Keane). But he is making persistent mistakes.

Really, the club should be looking for next season to be that O'Brien - Branthwaite partnership, with Tarkowski being at an age where he should be starting to be phased out (as in not starting 35+ games per season!).

Tarkowski the Dependable sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings.

Although he's less like Gandalf (Thou shall not pass!) and more like Gollum (scratching his ring) these days.

Patric (2)

Wasn't Keane to blame as much as Tarkowski for the cock-up over Haaland's goal?

Yes, Michael, O'Brien scored a goal but got turned inside out by Doku -- that's what got him the 7 you gave in your rating -- it couldn't have been for anything he did as a defender.

Let's see what Keane and O'Brien do as a partnership in the next three games when we are under pressure to win those games -- that's if Moyes chooses that partnership.

He has got worse and we offer him a new contract... only at Everton FC. Typical really... and we're still linked to buying John Stones... Jeez, will we ever fucking learn!?

When our past captain, Mr Ratcliffe, says that Dylan Lawler at Cardiff City is going to be a future star in the making, then why is our Chief Scout not living in Cardiff...as he plays for his country too!

A back five with three central defenders, O'Brien, Lawler and Branthwaite, would be fucking picking up clean sheets week after week!

So sign Lawler first thing in the summer!!!

He's a bottom-of-the-league backs-to-the-wall central defender.

If we want to move on, he needs to be jettisoned.

More likely to go for Chris Lawler...

We have a serious issue at central defence.

Tarkowski is old and slow and getting more and more immobile. Even his bread and butter, such as winning headers and defending corners, has become substandard.

Branthwaite is a talent but he's currently not able to string more than 5 matches together. His ability is not in doubt but his physicality and fitness for what is a demanding position is.

O'Brien is a talent but he's been pulled all over the shop because Coleman is a cripple and the manager doesn't trust Patterson. His best position is in central defence but Moyes prefers other options when they are fit.

Keane, as good as he's been, is a 12-month sticking plaster on a position that needs major surgery.

What's your opinion of the Man City centre-back who passed the ball to Barry in his own penalty box?

All players make mistakes, just like everyone on TW, at some point.

What's been a full-back issue all season has quickly become a centre-back issue.

Keane is squad cover for next season, Tarkowski needs moving on. O'Brien needs to step in and relearn the position.

Hopefully Branthwaithe can overcome his injury issues which are concerning now. A defensive rebuild or remould is needed in the summer.

Why do Tarkowski and Pickford pass it short to each other from goal kicks only to then boot it long anyway?

You can't be offside from a goal kick and I was watching them do it time and time again from my seat right on goal line of East Stand.

Beto would push the centre-backs back but, as soon as it went short, the Man City centre-backs would push up to half-way and Beto would be stranded offside.

It just made no sense whatsoever. Especially when neither of their centre-backs looked comfortable to the long ball and/or intensity and pressure. As the 2nd half showed. The number of times we went through the middle of them was astonishing.

The writing was on the wall second half of last season what little pace he did have went overnight and this season the decline is worrying. Pace is definitely the main issue with Jarod he can get away with it with Keane wide open as Keane nearly as slow too. Jake be far better in the middle with one of them as he’s got some pace. But like we all know we have no decent right back. Right back and a new centre half the main two priorities for me next season with a left back next and then hopefully a new striker and winger

Moyes will bring Stones back, O’Brien and Branthwaite should be the main pairing in central defence. Ffs but a right back or two.

https://x.com/LAROMA24/status/2051393923566714996?s=20

Hmmmm

A statistic you left out MK.

34 points gained out of 48 with a Tarkowski Keane partnership.

The only doubt about whether Branthwaite and O'Brien should be the central pairing is if Branthwaite is susceptible to chronic or regular injury which then just leaves the question of back up. For my money we should have extended the stay of just one of Tarkowski or Keane and just for the one season while looking for or signing a younger more competent third rather than somebody approaching their early or mid 30s.

And again it has to be asked, what has the Academy produced in this position albeit we seem to have sold anyone who has made it through the ranks.

Petty point maybe but we didn’t lose 2-1 at Fulham.

Well, I only spotted 2 errors in this article, but I didn’t read it that carefully, so there was probably more. Tarkowski was booked for a foul on Haaland, not Doku (that was Keane). Also, we won 2-1 at Fulham in February, not lost. Interestingly, I believe there is a stat, that Tarkowski is the most booked PL player without ever getting sent off. So, a yellow card doesn’t really affect him.

Branthwaite is a quality player but can we rely on him to replace Tarks or Keane long term? His injury record is a red flag. I would expect us to be in for another CB in the summer. Prioritising this may mean the replacement RB is put on hold and O'Brien sticks it out there.

Alternatively we could be looking at a whole new defence. New CB, new RB and new LB. I don't see that happening under Moyes who values continuity.

There's much riding on Branthwaite's injury prognosis.

Michael,

In answer to your headline question, my answer is Yed. He's been a great servant during our relegation fighting years but, now looking to the future is becoming a liability.

James, thanks for your fabulous service during our darkest years but now it is time for you to move on! Cheers.

Jimmy #19, I see it happening under Moyes who values defence.

This viewpoint is spot on. Tarkowski still does better than anybody what he has always done, block shots -- he leads the Premier League again -- but this season has shown recurrent lapses of concentration, which have never been an issue before. The Haaland goal was only the latest.

Most worryingly, he can't be trusted on the ball anymore. He's never been a brilliant passer, but he was always safe. Now the ball gets turned over more often in bad positions.

I think he can still be a valuable reserve, but his days as a starter should end now, and finding at least one talented young centre-back (perhaps two, given Branthwaite's health issues) should be our highest priority this summer along with right-back.

Some deal with it better than others, but I think age is catching up with Tarkowski.

He can deal with high crosses and shot blocking all day long, but his lapses in concentration are increasing and his passing and headers to nobody mean we are forever conceding possession.

Replacing him as a defender is one thing though, replacing him as captain may be more difficult.

He has been a very good free transfer, and has put his body on the line. He has been effective at what he does, which is hold together a struggling team.

He isn't my cup of tea for a central defender, as he lacks the true top level class. Rash, poor on the ball, and lacks pace. The Ashley Williams pull up of the jersey is a worry.

He is more a Bottom 6, than a Top 6 player, and we do need to have a plan to phase him out, if we have true ambition.

The Branthwaite injury complicates thing, as do the recurring injuries. The defence is a worry.

He's a liability and has been for some time, but like that twat from across the park, Virgil "Arm Up" van Dijk, it's never his fault.

I've got news for you, Tarkowski: It is your fault, most of the time.

Been below par all season.

The first rule of defending is to snuff out the immediate danger. Tarkowski is the immediate danger and -- despite having options for every single match -- Moyes has ignored them and kept selecting him.

Those criticising Tarkowski whilst exonerating the fella who keeps picking him make me howl.

We can't push high enough up the pitch when the two slow centre-backs start, allowing the opponent to play between our lines very easily.

We have been ripped on many occasions that way this season. Funnily enough, the team that got between our lines this season was Leeds.

We get more of the same edge-of-the-box defending if one or the other starts next season.

Darren:

Options? What options?

And please don't tell me you mean Patterson. Because I will laugh. Loudly.

Moyes picks the team!

Agreed, Mike.

The option of Patterson or Coleman, O'Brien, Keane and Mykolenko, doesn't scream instant improvement with Tarkowski taken out.

And with one injury, we are back to square one, and probably would undermine the relationship with Tarkowski as a senior player. Does a manager put that on the line in this scenario with 3 games to go?

Sure we can throw Garner back there, but you are just stealing from Peter to pay Paul.

Darren will howl it would seem, but will not put his cards on the table of who he would currently select, or acknowledge that the options are limited for the manager.

We all know the fucking problem; the solutions are the ones that are harder to find... and why decisions are put off when the answer isn't 100% clear.

The area needs major transfer surgery this summer, as the numbers and quality just aren't there. You can understand the links to White and Stones for next season, as both could slot in comfortably.

I am on board with both, as doing nothing can't happen, and I am not sure untested lads will provide the immediate delivery fans want. There is fuck-all patience these days, me included.

Mike G, after Monday night, an option is to play O'Brien in the middle, Rohl at right back and Dibling ahead of him.

With 3 Games to go, why not try it. We've seen how much energy Rohl has and a turn of speed... and we keep the advantage of tall guy in the box when we are defending.

Ian, we agree on the problem, but not on the solution.

Stones and White would slot in like my last two kidney stones. They are absolutely not what we need. We should be building, not bringing in overpriced patches.

Nor do I like the rumours about Everton and Nathan Ake, Boyomo from Osasuna (not tall enough) or Gatti from Juventus (not fast enough).

The rumours I do like are about the budding young superstar Banks from Augsburg, Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse (former England youth teammate of Garner and Branthwaite), and Fernandez (heavily rumoured) from Rangers. I haven't seen any of them but the reports are glowing.

If we were minded to spend big money on this position, try to pry Pavlovic away from Milan. That guy is a man-eater.

Get a top right-back so O'Brien can move inside, and then go get somebody great for the middle.

Andrew, there's still plenty at stake this season. We need 7 points from our last three to make the Conference League.

Rohl at right-back would be a wild gamble -- he has spent virtually no time at that position. Can he even do basic defending?

And I'd much rather play George than Dibling.

MG, I've noticed that you have been posting quite late for you the last couple of days. Have you been told to sleep on the sofa?

Mike, please tell me when Patterson has let us down?

I see Tarkowski doing it on a regular basis; you can howl all you want but I'd have Patterson at right-back ahead of O'Brien and Jake ahead of Tarkowski all day long.

Patterson played well when he was in the team and more than played his part in a decent run of results. Tarkowski is absolute dogshit, I can't wait til this yard dog is not a first-team player.

He has let us down more than Patterson has; he's made more cock-ups than any other defender.

Agree Mick mate, 36.

Mick #36, don't ask me, ask the manager -- and the other managers Patterson has played for. You think he played well in his three emergency starts, but Moyes obviously doesn't or he'd still be in the lineup. And just like Dyche and Lampard before him, Moyes has dozens of times preferred Patto on the bench instead of the pitch. Over the last two seasons, young Nathan has been healthy enough to be in the squad for 54 games. He has started 6. SIX. And that, folks, is a player who truly sucks in the eyes of his gaffers. (I thought he was adequate in the three January games.)

PG, yep. When the Scotch broom pollen gets this bad around here, I'm told my snoring gets gets loud enough to scare away the coyotes down the hill.

Mike, I think we will need more experience at the back, to see any youngsters through.

Keane, Tarkowski and Mykolenko are not the players to bring out the best in the youngsters you list. It would be a shit show.

Id be very surprised to see any team just chuck in a pile of untried youngsters ar the back, nor do I think we can carry on playing the old guard.

We cant do what City have done, and hit the middle ground of buying prime, peak, proven players. The budget isn't there, or the ability to attract them in.

Stones and White would sort a couple of gaps for about £25-30m in transfer fee. Yes, theyre on high wages, and that is the trade off. These players provide 2, 3, 5 years service, and allow you then to move to the ilk of player you list later down the road. The bleating on wages, is a bug bear of mine, as it is the nature of the industry- Pickford, Tarkowski, Gana, all pick up big dough. And when they go, new players will earn big money.

I like Kayode at Brentford. They signed him for £15m. He'd be worth, what £40m+ now. Would we bid, would he come vs the competition in a market short of right backs, would he still make mistakes at 21 and one season in the Premier league, would he buckle under the transfer fee, would we be patient enough?

Is Norton Cuffy much of an improvement on Patterson. No one knows.

Ive seen Cresswell, and he wouldn't be in my starting XI. I think he is a mile off a team chasing europe next season. Good enough for a promoted side, but would be a player picking up splinters at our place. We need players for now, not 3 years time.

Andrew @ 32; "With 3 Games to go, why not try it."
Why? because at about £2.5million or more prize money per place...in a very tight mid table...I doubt Moyes is game to 'try it'

Mike @29

You really should apply your not inconsiderable brain before you dive in with the silly questions.

In post 85 of the player ratings thread I gave four very clear options. let me give you a barrow load more permutations (options which have been open to Moyes).
He could have used Rohl at right back (he's played there before) and applied any of the four options I named - That makes EIGHT
He could have used Garner at right back (he's also played there before) and applied any of the four options I named - That makes TWELVE.
He spent a fortune on players that he doesnt want to play. He could have spent some of that that on the full back Everyone of us knew we needed - That makes THIRTEEN
He chose to extend the contract of Seamus - a player who has been finished for two years - that makes FOURTEEN
He could have brought in another center half (something else everyone knew we needed) -That makes FIFTEEN.
He spent 100m on players he has no intentions of playing (unless forced to) That could have bought a top class full back AND a center half - That makes SIXTEEN.

I havent run out of options. never will, but my fingers are starting to hurt so I`ll stop

It may make you laugh "very Loudly" that somebody would suggest Patterson, but it makes me weep to read ridiculous fingers-in-the-ear claims that Moyes hasnt or doesnt have any other option to the one which hasnt worked all season - A notion that would make me laugh out loud if it wasnt so soul destroying

This is football. There are Always, always, always options.

The manager has made his choices. This is what it looks like

Derek @ 41, not trying it because it might constitute a bit of a gamble is the most Moyes like answer ever.

He's never been much more than an old fashioned, back to the wall defender, imo. He's also been a very important player during our dark days but, like Myko, the overall improvement of the team has seen his limitations exposed.

He simply cannot play up the pitch, lacks awareness and anticipation and his pace is almost non existent.

This won't happen but I'd like to Merlin fill in at RB and Jake partner Keane at CB. I also think Patterson was harshly treated but that ship has sailed so its not even worth debating anymore.

Anyway, 9 points up for grabs and Europe is still a possibility.

Patterson is a concern, but Tarkowski isn't -- despite making mistakes that have cost us goals in each of the last four games.

Sure there is logic in there... but it is buried really deep.

Anyone else having issues with ToffeeWeb on their phone?

I have all the fall out from the West Ham game on my home page, and none of the recent stuff??

Tarkowski has been off the pace all season for me, he has never been quick but he must rank amongst the slowest centre-backs in the Premier League.

His distribution is appalling and his only strength is being inside the box heading and blocking shots.

Mike Gaynes, I don't mean to be critical but those who watch the game on TV don't see the whole picture as the TV just follows the ball, so you probably don't see Tarkowski's poor positional play.

I would ask the question: Why did we give Seamus Coleman a playing contract when it's quite obvious that, even though he is fit, Moyes is reluctant to pick him.

Also, our last 3 managers before Moyes didn't select Patterson much; he is okay going forward but defensively he is very unreliable.

Also, I wouldn't want Stones in the summer. Just like Tarkowski, he is past his best... hence why Pep doesn't select him very often. I don't fancy White at full-back.

This summer will be interesting but we can't take any more chances on a limited budget. All signings should and must be automatic starters -- not expensive bench warmers.

If you're not a starter, you're a bench warmer.

If only David Moyes could change.

Tony 48

Look I know you and many others on T/W just want Moyes gone, but other teams have had their fans calling for change and to be honest most clubs who have changed managers this season have struggled.

Spurs have had 3 managers this season and some on here were suggesting these names as Everton manager: Postecoglu, Franks. Forest have had 4 managers and West Ham have changed managers -- all of these clubs have been battling relegation.

So maybe a bit of stability of not fighting relegation will help us, and maybe we might even buy a decent striker who would make a massive difference to this team.

I would pay whatever it costs to get Ivan Toney from Saudi, he should be the automatic back-up to Kane, but I am sure if he did leave Saudi, there would be many clubs looking to sign him.

@48 Tony

He’s not capable of change.

Just a few weeks ago if we’d have won the derby we’d have gone ahead of Liverpool. They’re now all but certainly qualified for the champions league. That could’ve been us.

We were at home, against a very beatable Liverpool side and he couldn’t get the job done.

This season of all seasons could’ve been the absolute catalyst to put us back amongst the elite. Champions League football will never be as achievable as it has been this season.

Beneath it all sit the fact that Moyes does not want Champions League. He does not want expectation. He wants to keep Everton where they are and for him to be perceived to be doing a good job. Let’s be clear, his job is the David Moyes self preservation project and he’s very good at it.

His mid table finish and early cup exits have to be judged on their own merits and not against the back drop of the poor management performances that preceded him.

I would like to have a manager like Glasner, rather than Moyes, Brian, but I’d sooner see our current manager, be able to change.

He’s 63, Tommy, might not be right when he says he’s incapable of changing, but when I look at how we play, it does remind me of the distant past, under David Moyes.

Forest, have had a few managers, the yo-yo affect does nobody any good, and the manager who nearly got them into the champions league, last season, might end up being the one who takes West Ham, down this season.

Spurs, did something equally stupid, imo, sacking a man who had won them the Europa league, and only struggled so badly in the league because his squad had a lot of injuries.

The examples of what has happened at the three clubs I’ve mentioned, show that having stability is very important, and this is why I’d be happy to see David Moyes change, but if I’m being honest I tend to agree with a lot of what Tommy says, and believe that now we are through our darkest period, a club like Everton, should always be looking to try and win things, once again.