The Case for the Defence

marsh · 2025-10-27T21:20:34+0000

I suggested in August that we sign another Centre back and people laughed/was unsure, sadly I think I was right, having Keane and Tarkowski will cost us, they're both too slow and can't push up the pitch due to this. And Tarkowski has been alot worse than Keane which I didn't expect.

Zatara · 2025-10-28T04:39:00+0000

blueblood said:
And we blew the bulk of our summer budget on a young winger who isn’t ready (despite playing a full premier league season last year), and a young striker who isn't ready either, even though every Everton supporter in the land knew we needed a right back and probably a new left back.

We spent around £150mil and he cost £35mil rising to £40mil so its not the bulk.

He'll turn out to be the best signing of the window. The shocker was KDH who shouldnt be in the 11. That would have covered a RB.

Rehnman said:
Zat, I’m generally on the same page as you re which players have a future and which don’t, what’s your issue with Jake O’B tho? I think Jarrad and Jake can potentially be the perfect centre back partnership, a Jags and Joleon for the 2020s.

I'm not sure we've seen him perform to a top level at centre back?

We've seen him at RB and kind-of a back 3 but not as a standout in a pairing.

I agree that he and Branthwaite could be great together but another thing is that with Branthwaite now entering an area where injuries become a concern, we really need another centre back to come in.

When we look at the money Arsenal and Spurs (just an example i made yesterday) are spending on defence we need a top player to come in.

Ideally we see Obrien and Branthwaite together and they develop a partnership.

Efcjake · 2025-10-28T04:45:16+0000

I think it's Tarkowski who needs a week or two off and letting O'Brien play in the middle with Jimmy Garner right back.

Seathestars · 2025-10-28T05:05:21+0000

Score first in a lot of these games, which we could have done, and we wouldn't be having this debate, goals breed confidence.

johnjoeefc · 2025-10-28T06:12:05+0000

Saint Domingo said:
Without Branthwaite it’s an extremely average defence. The Michael Keane fan club can squeal all they want about whether he’s been better than Tarkwoski or not but it’s just two sides of the same coin covered in crap and completely irrelevant. Being in the best form of your career and only being slightly better than a player in the worst form of his entire career isn’t the brag that some people think it is. When Branthwaite doesn’t play, we leak 1-2 goals per game.

I’d put Jake OBrien in the middle with Tarkwoski and hope that Tarkwoski’s form improves without Keane next to him

For me some people just hate on Keane and to put the blame on him for Tarkowski not performing is laughable. Keane seems to be better than Tarkowski in other departments (passing, scoring) and as Keane has dropped the mistakes and the other is making them regularly its time Tarkowski is dropped.

Also the defence is only an issue when you dont score up the other end. The gaping problem is the lack of goals and how that negatively affects confidence throughout the team.

Zatara · 2025-10-28T06:30:34+0000

johnjoeefc said:
For me some people just hate on Keane and to put the blame on him for Tarkowski not performing is laughable. Keane seems to be better than Tarkowski in other departments (passing, scoring) and as Keane has dropped the mistakes and the other is making them regularly its time Tarkowski is dropped.

Also the defence is only an issue when you dont score up the other end. The gaping problem is the lack of goals and how that negatively affects confidence throughout the team.

Look how anyone next to Keane plays far worse than next to anyone else.

Look how deep the defence has to sit to allow for Keane.

Keane could have motm every game and he still shouldnt start.

alpethsm · 2025-10-28T06:37:41+0000

I know it's harsh (as he has improved) but we always concede loads of chances with Keane in the side, he's too slow to turn and sits back to cover affecting the structure of the side leaving a hole between defence and midfield.

It's been 8 years and it's always the same.

Jake and Tarkowski for me.

hallamblue · 2025-10-28T06:52:29+0000

Given our current squad I would play 3 Centre halves. We don't have a decent full back at the club so at home I'd be looking to play 3-4-3 and away from home 3-5-1-1. We are an unbalanced team with people playing out of position and strikers who can't hold the ball up. When you have that you struggle with transitions from the opposition and if the defence isn't set you'll concede chances. A possession based 3-4-3/3-5-1-1 could change that, but it's mainly down to the players not being very good so that needs addressing pretty quickly as well.

ElGato · 2025-10-28T07:12:40+0000

johnjoeefc said:
For me some people just hate on Keane and to put the blame on him for Tarkowski not performing is laughable. Keane seems to be better than Tarkowski in other departments (passing, scoring) and as Keane has dropped the mistakes and the other is making them regularly its time Tarkowski is dropped.

Also the defence is only an issue when you dont score up the other end. The gaping problem is the lack of goals and how that negatively affects confidence throughout the team.

Not true if we need to score 2 or 3 every game to be in with a chance of winning is it.

Currently we're shipping 3ish big chances per game

johnjoeefc · 2025-10-28T07:57:43+0000

ElGato said:
Not true if we need to score 2 or 3 every game to be in with a chance of winning is it.

Currently we're shipping 3ish big chances per game

We have scored an average of one goal a game. A worse ratio than last season

NilSatisOptimum · 2025-10-28T08:18:24+0000

Zatara said:
Look how anyone next to Keane plays far worse than next to anyone else.

Look how deep the defence has to sit to allow for Keane.

Keane could have motm every game and he still shouldnt start.

Keane and Tarkoski are an awful pairing to have at the back. Essentially both slow on pace. And the two full/ wing backs for different reasons are for the most part crap.

Personally I would go flat 5 in midfield and defence barley moves over halfway unless its dead ball play.

Be amazed if the captain is dropped!

ElGato · 2025-10-28T12:02:06+0000

johnjoeefc said:
We have scored an average of one goal a game. A worse ratio than last season

We definitely should be scoring more based on the possession we have and the chances we are creating. I'm not denying that.

But what I'm saying (and what this thread is about) is that the data shows that we are weaker at the back than going forwards (comparatively speaking, when looking at chances created vs conceded, to the rest of the premier league).

Blaming the lack of a clinical striker or a goal scoring no.10 for how open we are at the back seems a little wide of the mark. And sure, if we could score more, then it would be less of an issue... but that wouldn't change the bottom line: which is that we are a team that is easy to play through and create chances against.