Everton writers Chris Beesley and Joe Thomas consider their player of the campaign to date
David Moyes waves to the fans as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jordan Pickford celebrate after the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion. Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
David Moyes waves to the fans as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jordan Pickford celebrate after the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion. Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
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With seven games to go, Everton have everything to play for and - for the first time in years - the spoils within reach are towards the top end of the table.
The hammering of Chelsea before the international break was a statement win not just for the club’s efforts to make their new stadium truly feel like home, but also for David Moyes’ hopes of leading Everton’s return to Europe.
There is still time for heroes to emerge as the Blues seek a strong finish to the campaign but, amid the calm of a three week halt in fixtures, the ECHO’s Everton writers discuss who would be in line for their player of the season accolade.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been a breath of fresh air since he joined last August and I love his attitude both on and off the pitch – he seems to know what it takes to be an Everton player – but in terms of the outstanding performer so far this season, for me it is James Garner.
I’ve said before now, both in writing and on the Royal Blue podcast, that I believer Garner has taken his game up a couple of levels this term. He combines silk and steel in the engine room, with his ability to pick a pass, threading it through an opposition defence, while also possessing the tigerish tackling ability that Evertonians love.
He’s always been decent from set-pieces, but whether in dead ball situations or open play, Garner’s deliveries from wide have become an increasingly potent weapon. With quality lacking in other areas though, the 25-year-old’s ability to read the game ensures he isn’t just one of David Moyes’ best midfielders, he’s probably the Glaswegian gaffer’s best right-back too, and maybe even the best left-back!
Joe Thomas
The nice part to this is that there are several options you can legitimately plump for. I think Garner has been excellent and his England call-up was well-deserved. Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall have shown flashes of brilliance and the pair have a footballing intelligence that has been at the heart of this season’s progress - particularly when Jack Grealish was also involved.
Michael Keane deserves a mention because I think he has been Everton’s best-performing defender in a season in which the back line has held strong - his durability and consistency should not go under-appreciated in a campaign when those around him have had their ups and downs.
A few weeks ago my answer may have been different but as of now, I cannot look away from Jordan Pickford. He has been superb for years and is no stranger to the official player of the year awards, so maybe he is a boring pick. But the heights he has reached this season have been phenomenal and so important.
He made a series of good saves in the win over Fulham and a brilliant late stop in the victory over Burnley. At Newcastle United he produced that stunning stop from Sandro Tonali and against Chelsea his save from Enzo Fernandez was stunning.
Then there was that incredible diving effort to push Joshua Zirkzee’s header around the post and help secure a landmark three points at Old Trafford. He has been immense.