'Can they play right-back?' - the most asked question among Everton fans during the summer transfer window.
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Going into the summer, there was a non-negotiable to Everton’s transfer business: sign a right-back to fill a void which has been present in Everton’s defence for a number of seasons.
Fast forward to early September; the window is closed and Everton only have one recognised left back in Vitalii Mykolenko, and one recognised right-back in deadline-day signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles. To use the word precarious about the situation may even be an understatement.
Throughout last season, and also this pre-season, Everton have shoehorned in midfielders and centre halves to try and fill that void, using the likes of Jake O’Brien, Merlin Röhl and even James Garner. So where does this leave us now?
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Everton's right-back options analysed
I’ll start with Merlin Röhl. He’s been Moyes’ starting right back this season so far, starting all three of the league games against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Manchester United.
His performances haven’t quite matched the ones we saw in pre-season. For me, I do worry about Röhl’s defensive awareness. We rode our luck at times against Crystal Palace, but for Jordan Pickford’s heroics, a lapse in concentration from Röhl could easily have seen us fall behind.
Then came the Manchester United game, I think this was the one where a lot of Evertonians became slightly concerned with what Röhl was showing at right back. Marcus Rashford, who by the way is a top player, really had his number and Röhl couldn’t really compete.
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But what about Jake O’Brien? A man seemingly falling right out of favour at Everton. Last year, he was Moyes’ number one choice for right back, but now he’s barely getting a look in. Let’s be honest here, he wants to play centre half, and going into a third season being shoehorned there, you could probably understand any frustration on his part.
Our deadline day arrival Ainsley Maitland-Niles may provide some remedy to the situation, but if the rumours are correct, this is a player who left Arsenal as he saw himself more as a midfield player.
His short cameo against Manchester United will of course be remembered for that absolute screamer in front of the South Stand, a goal that I’ve probably watched over 100 times this week! But we will need to wait and see what he can offer defensively before making a judgement on how much he can aid the right back situation.
And then finally, James Garner. Probably David Moyes’ most valuable utility player. Last season saw Garner play left back, right back, centre midfield and I think even a brief cameo at right midfield too! I do feel like he is my preferred option as a short term remedy to this situation, at least until we get to the January window.
Who is the best option?
For me, I think the immediate impact of Hayden Hackney and Harrison Armstrong this season in the centre of midfield definitely helps Moyes’ situation. I think that personally frees up James Garner to play at right back for Everton, a role he is more than capable of doing.
He will offer us defensive solidity but also isn’t afraid of getting forward to put in a cross towards Thierno Barry. Then, you’d be looking at having Ainsley Maitland-Niles as a backup wherever he is needed.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, I think Garner is our best option to deal with the pace and directness that Spurs have on the wings.
I do feel like we’re doing a disservice to Merlin Röhl by playing him at right back. Like Jake O’Brien, it really does stunt their development and I think Röhl can better affect a game further up the pitch, just like he did against Manchester City in May at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Whichever way you look at it, it’s not an ideal situation at all but one I do feel is manageable with the players we’ve got. The pleasing aspect also is David Moyes’ comments saying that the players were not going to shirk any responsibility, which says to me we’ve got a good group of players that will work hard.
What would you do with our right back situation? No doubt that there will be a range of opinions, that’s what football is all about!