Everton take on Brighton this weekend, and former player Michael Ball has boldly sent David Moyes some advice regarding one of his most trusted stars.
David Moyes will be looking to continue Everton’s good form away from home against the Seagulls, who are a couple of places below the Toffees in the Premier League table.
The draw with Leeds at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was frustrating earlier this week.
But Brighton – although good at home – represent another chance to get three points on the board.
James Tarkowski has made it into WhoScored’s Premier League Team of the 2020’s so far! 👏
Everton fans, just how good a signing has Tarky been?
A custom graphic showing James Tarkowski's inclusion in WhoScored's Premier League Team of the 2020's so far.
Credit: GRV Media
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Everton are still in a promising position in terms of a push for European football, so three points on the south coast would be very welcome indeed.
Moyes has been able to welcome back some key players to his squad recently, with Jarrad Branthwaite among those returning.
And in the eyes of Michael Ball, that could put James Tarkowski’s starting spot at risk.
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Michael Ball suggests Moyes should think about dropping James Tarkowski for Everton
James Tarkowski playing for Everton.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Tarkowski has played every minute of every Premier League game so far this season for Everton.
And he has also played every minute in the club’s three cup games.
Tarkowski being in Everton’s backline has pretty much been a given since he signed for the club in 2022.
But for Michael Ball, we’re at the point now where it shouldn’t be a given that he starts, with Branthwaite back in the picture.
He said in his Liverpool Echo column: “It’s going to take time for Jarrad to get back to full match fitness and rhythm. Now though, for the first time, there is competition for places and if you drop your form, there is someone there to take your shirt.
With all centre-backs fit, should David Moyes consider dropping James Tarkowski for Everton? 🤔
Michael Ball reckons there's an opportunity to make a change 👀
A custom graphic showing a quote from Michael Ball on James Tarkowski.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
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“I think James Tarkowski has been up and down this season. While he’s been fantastic in moments, at other times he’s been a bit overzealous, making unnecessary tackles when they’ve not been required that have changed the momentum of games.
“Captain or not, there is the opportunity to make a change. David Moyes has got that option and that’s what you want with a selection headache and something of a guessing game over who he is going to pick in his starting 11.”
David Moyes surely isn’t dropping Tarkowski
Everybody knows how good Branthwaite is and it’s amazing that he’s finally back from injury.
The suggestion from Ball is that Moyes has the option of dropping Tarkowski amid an inconsistent season.
But it’s very hard to see Moyes doing this given just how heavily Tarkowski has featured since the Scot came in.
He’s only missed five of the 42 Premier League games Moyes has overseen in his second spell – and that was only because of injury. He would surely have played in those games had he been fit and available.
James Tarkowski playing for Everton.
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images
It’s clear Moyes sees Tarkowski as integral and, while he has had some poor games this season – it would be a major call from the manager if he ditched him all of a sudden and started playing Branthwaite and Jack O’Brien together.
Branthwaite and O’Brien will likely be the long-term future pairing for Everton.
But for now, surely Tarkowski plays while he’s here. One thing Moyes could do though is play a back three, with Tarkowski keeping his place in the middle with Branthwaite and O’Brien either side.
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