Everton unlikely to resolve left-back problem before the deadline

Does anyone know if Garbutt has been registered?? At least that would be better than Martina.

Perhaps our first choice left-back isn't available until the summer? Hopefully Coleman is back soon at right-back and maybe switch Kenny to left-back...

Either way there probably isn't a need to spend ridiculous money with 15 games to go and we only have Premier League places to play for. That's probably what the club are thinking.

No problem with that; far better than buying one for the sake of the remaining 15 games left.

Hopefully Sam is playing our needs down. We need a left foot... one that can play either left back or wing back. That should be as big a priority as trimming the 33. As we all know...

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2018/1/11/16875030/chelsea-left-wing-back-search-potential-transfer-targets-scouting-statistics-comparison

If the latter, indicative of "small club" mentality; the left-back situation is atrocious – another glorious Koeman legacy.

If he could possibly in the squad (team) for tomorrow, then it is an absolute disgrace on behalf of the manager and Director of Football. It is pure laziness on both their parts if they haven't registered him if they can.

Fair enough if Allardyce has looked at him and thinks Martina is a better option but, if this is the case, come out and at least allude to it!

Honestly, if any defender is fit, play him at left back – it may as well be Williams or Keane than Martina.

You really think he'll be in charge come August? Anything he did in those initial games to convince Moshiri he was more than a caretaker has subsequently been undone.

Furthermore, let's not forget his age. This was never going to be a long-term appointment.

Like so many have already mentioned; this is not a case of it's just suddenly happened, because of unforeseen injuries; it's been glaringly obvious for a while.

From Sam's demeanour and answers at the various press meetings; it is fairly obvious that he has little say in who is coming or going; he makes suggestions and waits for someone to say either yeah or nay. That's how it comes across to me at any rate, however I may be wrong.

Which beggars the question again, what is Walsh doing as Director of Football? Admittedly he unearthed some gems at Leicester, who very few of us had heard of; for relatively low outlays.

Roll on to us, alongside Koeman we paid way over the odds for players, who nobody else were in the frame for; no bargains or unpolished gems among them; plus we overstocked in positions, when we were crying out for a striker and a left back.

Unless there is a surprise in store, or a few exits to happen soon, I can't see the situation changing.

Having have since had the last window this should have been secured without question. Any purchase is better than the fella we have at the moment, and it gives the new lad 14 games to bed in. No longer term vision at all.

Add to this we offer no threat from the left and are funnelled right which leaves the opposition a free go down our right.

Complete failure at all levels.

We really are a laughing stock. We could have had Robertson from Hull before LFC even looked at him. Everton – the club that makes its own fans sick and feeling hopeless. Sack the Board!

It can't be Allardyce's doing – if he doesn't know how desperate we are for a left-back, then he doesn't know his job.

Mind you Martina scored an absolute cracker a few years ago... maybe he can come up with another, he is due one – and I mean for us!!!!

Did I read that right?

We simply cannot let Martina continue any longer. Is Allardyce (on millions a year), completely fucking blind?

If we have no plans to bring in a new left back, then Garbutt must simply be registered without fail, if possible. Or at the very least, Galloway recalled as a far superior deputy for Leighton Baines than our useless, completely surplus to requirements Southampton third-choice right-back.

If Garbutt is not, he clearly has no future – so why did we fight so hard to buy him and what on earth are we paying him tens of thousands of pounds a week for?

Football, and Everton in particular, just defy all logic.

Stop pissing around bringing in all sorts of players we don't urgently need Walsh & Co – and get your priorities right.

No evidence at all yet as to just what you do and whether it is of any value whatsoever. Be minded that you and your mysterious role are under no small measure of fan scrutiny right now...

[Repeat til knackered! Are you ready?]

What do we...

As alluded to before, 15 games to go. Garbutt, Galloway and Baines at some point to cover those and Martina kept sweet for tomorrow's game. If we can't get who we want now, why buy?

Neither of them are an improvement on Martina – and that's saying something! Don't all you Garbutt advocates think that the manager and coaching staff haven't had a look at him? <:P>The cold harsh truth is he's not good enough for this level... ditto Galloway.

In defence of Martina, I think he has been cruelly exposed by very poor cover from both Sigurdsson, and the midfield. The Spurs game was a clear example of him being targeted and he really wasn't given enough help.

I think that the club is doing just enough to placate the fan base without breaking the bank. Despite our summer spending, we all know how little the net spend was, so no change here. Mirallas is off the books and possibly Lennon will also be off-loaded. With one or two more shipped out the wage bill will reduce keeping the board happy while we all endure this car-crash of a season with the distraction of watching the young Turk and Walcott hopefully inject some purpose to our floundering football.

Come the summer perhaps we will sign the creative midfielder and left-back that we need.

Perhaps Dowell will return from Nottm Forest and provide the midfield with some direction and we can splash-out on a good left-back along with a left-footed centre-half.

There must be a number to choose from. Leighton is in the latter stages of his career and any sensible replacement can only be good for the squad this year and next, even if a top-notch first-choice left-back is acquired in the summer.

Surely any proper management requires that you have cover in every position. If Allardyce is determined to be so obstinate and short-sighted, then we can only conclude that he knows that he isn't going to be here after August and is looking for his excuses now.

If Allardyce is not going to register Garbutt and/or Galloway, then why doesn't he explain his reasons? Both of them have shown themselves to be more than capable, certainly more so than our current incumbent.

Bring on May and the end of the season. Saturdays are no fun.

I cannot believe that both of these lads are so bad they cannot do a better job than Martina who, god love him, has done all he can when played there.

If it's a case of all chairs are occupied, then bin someone from the squad to make a space for either Galloway or Garbutt.

a) We are only 7 points off the drop zone with 15 games to play, and although it's unlikely that we'll get sucked into a relegation scrap, would you put your mortgage on us being in the Premier League next season?

b) If Spurs is the template, teams are going to target Martina or, more to the point, our left flank because they know it's where we are weak.

Allardyce has no option but to get a left-back, he doesn't have to be a world beater, even someone nearing the end of his career, a la Kenny Sampson, but this can't go on.

If we have to go down the internal route then we should try and recall Callum Connolly. He looks a lot more solid defensively than Garbutt and Galloway and can get forward too and has been playing further forward on the left hand flank at Ipswich.

This inept board/owner having had this and the previous manager of their choice tell them explicitly since summer that we need a left-back it borders on deliberate sabotage by them in condemning our season to the bin by having the hapless manager front up their misdeeds to the media. They should be ashamed of themselves and not least for being cowardly in using Allardyce in this way.

Until fans at the ground make their condemnation of those in charge known to all there seems to be no depth to which the board/owner will not stoop in taking us all for a ride.

That Robertson that Liverpool snagged from Hull looks the part – boundless energy and a really assured left foot, typical modern day player whilst we continue to fit square pegs in round holes.

I guess the glorified Phileas Fogg (Steve Walsh) should be on his way back from his Around the World in 80 Days trip now.

“So Steve what did you find for us?”

Errrr, errrmmmm....not much eh!?
Joke!

Kenny has a lot to learn and would be just as bad in my opinion. Whoever plays left back, they need better cover helping them out. Our opponents know we are weak there and are all over us.

So that's it then, wait for Baines to return and he will still let crosses come in and turn his back on shots.

There is no point in having Mr Walsh in such a position, he should be scouting, finding new talents. Only the manager (which for now happens to be Big Sam) should ultimately decide who comes in and who goes out.

I don't for one second, doubt that they recognize our failures but the two of them just can't decide who will it be, how much should we pay, can he do it and is he worth it.

This leads to a situation where nothing is happening even if it would be so easy when one man makes the call.

I would ditch Walsh now.

If the reason for not going for a left back is the number of games we have left to survive the season what's the point in purchasing Tosun and Walcott?

The quicker we start over, the better, as far as I am concerned – and by that a manager who is looking to the future and not his pay-off package.

We couldn't possibly be this incompetent... could we?

We'll be hiring a proper, indeed brilliant, coach in May, June or July to give wings to our youthful talent and to usher back the flair we know so well and have grown to love so much. Sorted.

My thoughts exactly!

I think (guess) that Alladyce has been given the opportunity to buy a couple of players, and no more, until a fairly hefty pruning operation takes place. Indeed, that's what he's implied.

So, he's got 2 good players in and both are attackers. If a full back becomes available, either on loan or good enough to be a permanent buy, the if we trim the squad before the end of the transfer window, we might get one. There is another 11 days, so we might sell/loan out more players, leaving us the room to bring in IF there's one available that is good enough to be a permanent signing.

It might well be that we have to make do and mend until the Summer but at least we will have an attack now, with two very fast front men and two goalscorers out of the three.

IF it has to be either/or then I'm of the view that our need to score goals, outweighs our need for a left back.

I would prefer trying them than getting a left back on a long contract just because,

A. They are available B. We are desperate!

The way things are going, hung, drawn and quartered, may be better than a trim. Something for the weekend Sir?

Yes a left footed Left Back for starters, thanks Sweeney!

Surely the board must realise that the higher we finish in the league the more money we will have, so it's false economy, to skimp and muddle through without a left-back.

Again, Koeman is still doing us down after he has left, a decent manager with the amount he had to spend..... I despair.

"When is Rooney being trimmed?"

Good question mate, but I still live for the day when we hear a hysterical commentator scream "ROOOOOONNNNNNNEEEEEEEHHHHH".

It'll happen and it will be big!!!!

Teams we are playing against can and ruthlessly exploit it. The left side of our defense is totally porous, wrong-footed people who cannot tackle supported by expensive no-marks who can't run. You couldn't make this level of incompetence up.

Oh well maybe we'll buy another winger to solve our problems. Let's hope we get to 40 points this season.

Frustrated Blue

"Why were we playing a right-back at left-back?"

He was told the 1st choice left-back was out injured. So, 2 days later, Stoke City sign an international left-back... enough said.

Joke of a manager and board. Having no left-back or left-sided winger upsets the balance of the team. There will be 18 players named for the match tomorrow and the only left-footed player is the keeper...

To me, Sam seemed pretty fed up when he stated that we would not be looking to sign any more. Trimming the squad makes sense – we can afford to lose at least 5 Number 10s and still have enough to field a five-a-side match of the spares.

Some of the dead weight we have been carrying all season must go in the next couple of weeks. To be honest, I wouldn't care if we paid the likes of Klaassen off to get rid of them. That would be money well spent even if it means no left-back until the summer.

We have changed to much too soon, and it can't be easy to stomach paying out all these wages, on players who are not getting anywhere near the first team squad?

Looks like Lennon has gone, Niasse will probably be next, maybe Klaassen or Sandro might also go out on loan, because its got to be all about trimming the wage bill first?

I have never been of the opinion that Garbutt wasn't good enough, felt he hasn't been given enough chances, but surely he has to be better than Martina, or the Garden Chair.

Let's hope we have got it together by Sat 7th April and you may just be right.

If there is anything these players owe us, it's one day of complete fucking joy!

Is it something he shows during training or elsewhere off the pitch? However, excluding such speculation, if Luke had played every game this season, from what I have seen of him, in none of those games would he have performed as badly Martina did against Spurs last weekend.

Give this lad a few games v then we will all know if he's as bad as Martina. If the results don't change, he can be sold off to Skelmersdale Utd with Cuco.

That fella from Munich though looks very interesting indeed, and I wouldn't mind waiting for him until the summer.

Full backs are two of the most important positions in modern football and we've been severely hampered by the demise of Baines and the absence of Coleman. Top Full backs are all now converted wingers who've had to learn how to defend a little bit but really thrive when going forward.

Kenny has tried manfully and there is some potential there but he gets a free pass from most being young and a local lad; lots of goals, however, have come down his side due to poor positional play and basic errors like Saturday.

Martina, well he was bought in as cover and whilst acknowledging he's not actually very good, he's not anywhere near as bad as some on here make out. In fact, on the right he was actually pretty decent going forward earlier in the season. Always an option and not a bad crosser of the ball. Again, I'm not saying that he's the answer.

Here's hoping that Sam is just keeping his cards close to his chest and that they are indeed close to securing a left-back. I love the guy from Bayern, who would be a perfect option in my opinion.

At least in one interview I saw today, Allardyce has confirmed that if not in this window, they are looking at 2/3 left footers to balance out the squad in the summer.

Spurs should be the blueprint in terms of balance – left-footed centre-back, left-footed centre-mid and two quality left-backs. The way forward.

Some will be disappointed but its still be a great January with Tosun and Walcott arriving as goal scoring has been the priority in this window

The thinking being, they both have the pace and if coached properly they can learn the art of defending crosses. It's obvious we will not be buying/loaning any player to replace Baines.

The formation so far has utilised five players. Gana as the "holding" midfielder. Two in midfield with Tosun and Walcott up front. My preferred midfield would be Siggy and Davies with Rooney coming off the bench.

We need to start lining up like the big boys if we ever intend to compete with them for a top four finish.

Then again... those teams play on the front foot. We don't. And we haven't so far been able to keep the ball, pass the ball or control the game.

My dad is left footed. He might be 70 now but he is available for a snip at £8 million plus my agents fee of £9 million (non-negotiable).

He should at least have a trial. I've seen him play, he has two left feet. That would make up for the lack of in the squad and allow us to get shut of two right feet.

Now that is a statement that I defy any TWer to contradict.

My sentiments exactly.

Only thing I've read tonight, which supposedly came from our managers lips, is him saying the players are not mentally strong, so it's quite possible that these words were meant to try and give Cuco a bit more confidence?

This is why this forum is so good... absolutely laughing my bollocks off...

Yet, Baines himself has been too 'fearful' of doing the forwards thing we expect, now that he's seemingly slowed down so much. And it's been like that for the last 2 years, at least! So we really need some cover!

There is no doubting Martina is doing a fantastic job; unfortunately, it's not for us.

It hasn't worked out for him but he is still young so has every chance to become a top class player with the right opportunity. Maybe even on loan with agreement to buy at the end of the season if possible.

It may be Garbutt comes in, but he's hardly been impressing of late, so take your pick.

Midfield is our biggest problem, we have no end of midfielders but not one that is special and can run the show.

If you don't laugh you'll cry.

Mourinho has just said he reckons he has the best left back in the Premier League right now – Luke Shaw!

When will this nightmare end?

Konsa may or may not turn out to be a top Premier League centre-back but I suspect he's well worth a punt at ٢m and it should have been us doing the punting.

The left-back situation needs judging on 1st February. Frankly, the supporters know that there is not a manager in the country would think it's okay to have not addressed this nonsense in January, so it's not unreasonable to assume that this is yet more evidence of failings elsewhere.

But there are still 11 days left to prove us all wrong Mr Walsh, Mr Moshiri, Mr Kenwright. There it is, too many Mr's in that sentence. Step up Mrs Deputy CEO, who cannot possibly do a worse job you'd think, even that of scouting new players!

So it is either we had an amazing backroom staff who had this deal in the making for years and decided to go ahead at the last minute, or it was a panic buy after he made the whole team look popor when we played in Europe.

I guess no more European signings for a while then...

I think there's another 2 left backs on loan. There shouldn't be a problem. Only at Everton!

Not that Martina is dreadful, but he's a “make-weight”. Either of the other two can sink or potentially swim. Probably worth a chance before returning to Cuco.

Lennon was always lacking a final ball but at least provided some cover for Kenny. When Lennon played, Kenny looked a much better full back!

Sam's probably been told by the board to get rid of some of the squad before spending again. Also, we know Everton its still looking at possible signings. So we shouldn't be surprised if Sam is just cooling the market expectation in an attempt to deflect attention.

I still wouldn't be surprised to see at least one defensive left sided signing in this window.

If he's saying on 20 January it's unlikely we'll get one, it's for other reasons than he hasn't specified the need.

Sam says Cuco is doing a good job, well he would wouldn't he... what he doesn't add is – considering how gash he is. Though tbf, there are more than a few times he doesn't look any worse than all the others.

Tony @ 59; I agree it's time this Director of Football experiment was binned...

Oh how we laughed when Abamovich foisted Shevchenko(?) on to Mourihno saying; "I don't care if he doesn't fit your pattern... you're the Coach, coach him so he does."

It isn't Allardyce's fault that the squad is bloated so why is it his priority to trim it when he should have carte blanche to do whatever it takes to strengthen the first team? Our squad is still unbalanced and that has to be addressed as soon as possible.

Does it actually help the club's image to make out an apparent lack of clout in the transfer market is actually a case of pragmatism, because it doesn't make me feel any better about the state the club is in?

Surely it is poor management for opportunities to instigate proper corrective and preventive actions to be parked simply to improve the balance sheet in the short-term, but maybe we shouldn't expect our football club to be any more progressive than what may be the prevalent approach to business.

I touched on this on another thread. Aren't clubs like ours condemned to have bloated squads because we struggle to attract / retain the 20 or so top class players in their absolute prime (generally 24 to 28 years old) that are required to be consistently competitive across a number of competitions. So they have to have extra quantities of youngsters, inconsistent and / or injury prone mavericks, and stalwart players on the wane in order to moderate the almost inevitable drops in form over the course of a typical season?

I have loved Leighton Baines in all the time he has been with us. A model pro who gave his all and is a good football player.

His attacking was his biggest strength whilst being a decent defender. Both have those strengths have become his weakness in the past couple of seasons so the club should have sorted this out long ago because when he comes back he will be the new whipping boy for many fans and that's a shame.

We may even have the answer in our squad but to leave an average right back there is piss poor management.

Everyone knows we need a left-back by saying we have to wait might stop people from adding 㾶m to any transfer fee.

Having said that, I think Martina is doing an excellent job 😂 lol.

Get Garbutt in problem.solved.

Everton are incompetent as a club from top to bottom.

He really fancies the Brazilian left-back at Juventus; until he gets his man, he will sing Shaw's praises. I think Shaw will become available in the summer.

The fact is that there is no such thing as one player being independently responsible for winning any points. It's a team game with the result earned over 90 + minutes of events. I'm sure in those matches Rooney scored there were tackles, saves, passes that led to certain opportunities, etc.

I'm sure the “fact” is that if Pickford has not made certain saves, or the defense not made certain tackles and interceptions, that results would have been much different. Maybe you should double check fact vs opinion.

For me, Steve Walsh is symptomatic of the creeping ineptitude that has been a feature of our performance in the transfer market since his appointment. Who has he brought in that has had an impact on the first team? What gems has he discovered? Erm... none as far as I can see.

Just what are we paying this man to do? Because, whatever it is, he doesn't seem to be doing it. If we want to trim the wage bill, then maybe we could start by off-loading this useless waste of space!

As I've asked on numerous occasions... just what does Steve Walsh do?

Trust me the manager is irrelevant as Sam or not this will continue and fixing our squad defecencies is going to take a few years.

That said left back should have been sorted last summer and at the moment we might as well be playing with 10 men so it is going to be difficult to win football matches.

I'd be surprised if we don't get a left back but I'm also surprised we can be so casual about it.

Surely all those statistics must be showing its a problem.

And in turn, it then takes him away from doing what he was bought to do in and around the opposition box.

Ah, this football management business is easy eh?

Yes the left back position needs sorting but not getting some no mark in for the sake of it. Martina has had some decent games as well as poor ones .

As others have said, with only 15 games left and no likelihood of reaching the top six there is no point in chasing an expensive temporary solution unless we are confident the player is good enough to be in the starting eleven next season. Good left backs who can also play in a wing back role are not readily available. The fact that Shaw is back in favour at United tends to confirm that.

Walsh may or may not be a waste of money but even if he is as poor as some think - and he isn't- he doesn't have to be Einstein to take note of the better LBs within our range and who might come here. Wait until the window is closed.

Some say we should buy Shaw- another Drenthe or Andy van der Meide there I would fear. Mourinho is talking him up and this could be to get someone to take a punt on him.

Martina will be helped if the new attacking players actually attack and therefore relieve the pressure on the defence. Try Galloway and Garbutt. We should steer clear of relegation so there is no mad panic to get what could be a substandard LB in what is traditionally a difficult period to acquire quality. Come the summer we should know whether Baines has anything left at this level, we will know if Funes will return to the first team and whether Garbutt, Galloway,Robinson or Connolly can step up- Robinson is getting rave reviews at Bolton.

It is very frustrating as we all want to see better football now rather than wait but we have to be sensible. It could well be that a couple going out in addition to Lennon and MIrallas might just see a late acquisition.

Sam Alladyce tries to publicly give a not very good player, who is playing out of position, some confidence and gets villified for it! Brilliant!!

What Dave has written above is how I see the situation. I wrote earlier about Mourino suddenly finding he's got a world beating Left Back on his books after leaving him in the stiffs for yonks.

I think it's about making do and mending until the Summer, unless we can sell a few players. If Garbut or Galloway are good enough; and that means being better than a man playing there already, then I'm sure one or the other will play. But their track record isn't so hot.

We, I'm sure, don't want to see some left back come in and then not do the business. That would be more money spent and another player on the books that we can't get shut of.

If we are going to buy a LB, then it makes sense to get the best we can afford. It might happen but it's very unlikely that kind of player will come available in this transfer window.

For once however, this BS is welcome.

I'm sure after last week Martina's days are numbered at left - back and by the end of the month we will have someone more competent in that position, even if it's Garbutt or Galloway as opposed to a new signing.

This is not a pop at Martina by the way. It must be incredibly difficult to play out of position every week with little or no protection in front of you.

Last season this principle was part of the 'pressing' that Koeman wanted but didn't get. We should now be in a better position to do this. The best form of defence is attack, as the old saying goes.