Has Everton done well so far? Jarrad Branthwaite shares thoughts on Everton season
Everton head into the international break with a strong performance, winning 3-1 against Coventry City.
The result continued their encouraging start to the Premier League and moved them to 6th place in the table with 16 points, level with fifth-placed Chelsea.
There had been doubts over when Everton started the season with a timid squad. The lack of backing in the summer transfer window was even voiced by David Moyes at the time. However, things turned out totally different for David Moyes and Everton, who have surprised many with their position in the Premier League table after 10 games.
Everton’s performances this season has given many hope of better things. Among those is Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who believes the squad is capable of meeting its ambitions this season.
Jarrad Branthwaite believes Everton have proved their critics wrong after making an impressive start to the season, insisting the squad has shown it can compete towards the top end of the table.
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Jarrad Branthwaite happy with Everton’s progress
Speaking about Everton’s position, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo, the defender said the club were exactly where the players and staff wanted to be at this stage of the campaign.
“I think as a group of players and staff it is where we want to be. The ambition at the start of the season was to keep an eye on the cups and for us it is to give that a real good go.
“I think we are in a great position now, but it is going to be a really tough match in the next round of the cup, but we will go there with confidence and pick up a result there.
“It is the same again in the league. It is just about chipping away and taking it game by game, and seeing where that takes us at the end of the season.”
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Branthwaite reflected on the criticism Everton received over the size of their squad before the season began. Rather than those doubts affecting them, the players have responded with performances good enough to put them in a promising position.
“I think I have said this before but we were sort of written off at the end of the season with the amount of players we had, the squad wouldn’t be big enough to cope, but I think we have shown we can challenge at the top end of the table. I think for us as a group it is to keep that mentality going.”
England return a reward for club performances
Jarrad Branthwaite was selected in Thomas Tuchel’s November squad for games against Croatia and Spain. The centre-back was quick to recognise the importance of his performances at club level in earning international call up.
“It is down to how I perform for the club essentially. That is how you get picked and when I get the chance to play for England it is a privilege and I am always happy to be there.”
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With Everton climbing the table, Jarrad Branthwaite will be hoping the squad can maintain its momentum when domestic football resumes after the international break and continue to climb in the Premier League table.
Shumail Sajid writes about Manchester United for Read Man Utd and Crystal Palace for Read Crystal Palace, with occasional pieces on other Premier League clubs. He has also written for FanSided's Red Devils Dispatch, Yardbarker, Anfield Central and The Sports Side.
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