Everton have a bit of a problem at right-back currently, but James Garner is the perfect man to solve that issue and David Moyes should stick with his unorthodox plan.
With Seamus Coleman now 37-years-old and unable to play week in, week out, and Nathan Patterson injured, Everton have had to adapt.
Jake O’Brien would be the obvious choice to fill in, but the Irishman has shown weaknesses this season, leading to David Moyes turning to plan B.
James Garner has stepped in at right-back, and has done a brilliant job. So much so, in fact, that Moyes thinks Garner deserves an England call-up. But, should he keep playing in this alternate position?
Everton defender Jake O'Brien.
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images
James Garner is superior at right-back
Garner is a defensive midfielder by trade, but the versatile Toffees star has filled in at left-back and right-back already this season.
In fact, he got his first goal of the season while playing on the left, and he just put in a top quality display on the right.
Say it quietly, but could we be seeing the reverse of a Trent Alexander-Arnold situation here? Clearly, there is something about the connection between right-back and central midfield that just seems to click.
Looking at all the statistics that make for a good full-back, Garner is head and shoulders above O’Brien, too. We know his passing is great, but his defensive work is top notch.
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In terms of progressive passes, Garner is way ahead with an average of 5.27 per 90 minutes, while O’Brien has just 2.47 per 90. The same applies to progressive carries, with Garner at 1.09 per 90 and O’Brien slightly lower at 0.93 per 90.
Statistics James Garner Jake O’Brien
Progressive passes/90 5.27 2.47
Progressive carries/90 1.09 0.93
Pass success 81.5% 66.6%
Tackles won/90 1.43 1.03
Blocks/90 1.64 0.72
Interceptions/90 1.38 0.37
Clearances/90 2.73 4.23
Data via FBRef
Garner’s pass success rate is far superior, standing at an average of 81.5% and O’Brien way down at a 66.6% average.
You’d think O’Brien would at least dominate defensively, but Garner has him beat there as well. Garner has won more tackles per 90 (1.43 to O’Brien’s 1.03), made more blocks (1.64 per 90 to O’Brien’s 0.72), and more interceptions (1.38 to O’Brien’s 0.37).
The only area O’Brien does win is clearances, with the Irishman registering 4.23 per 90 minutes compared to Garner’s 2.73 per 90.
Garner has discussed what he offers at right-back compared to O’Brien, in terms of providing more of an attacking outlet. But, from the statistics, it’s glaringly obvious that he is simply the better choice all round.
James Garner during Everton v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
There are downsides to playing James Garner in defence
There is one drawback to this positional switch, though. When you play James Garner in the middle of the park you get all that creativity, passing range, and his ability to break up play in such a key area.
Losing him there puts extra weight on the likes of Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gueye. Judging by the win over Fulham, they can handle it, but how long they can consistently do that across the season is another matter.
We hear Everton are looking for another full-back in January, which would render this discussion null and void for the second half of the season. But, for the meantime, Moyes would do well to stick with Garner and benefit from the 24-year-old’s newfound talent as a right-back.