Garbutt is registered to play

Having said that if Allardyce continues to play Sigurdsson in front of him, he too will be exposed and get slaughtered. That's not a criticism of Sigurdsson by the way. Left mid is not his position.

Let's hope Garbutt can step up and make a really decent job of it. Good luck to him.

But I have high regard for Unsworth's player development and assessment skills. He was right about Holgate, right about Kenny and Calvert-Lewin, and I suspect he'll be proven right about Beni. So if Rhino says Garbutt has learned to play defense and is ready to step up, I'm delighted to take him at his word.

I wish him all the best, because he is desperately needed. Take advantage of your second chance, young man, and make it happen!

I like Rooney in the role of the deep lying ball player with McCarthy and Gueye on either side. McCarthy covers the right back ((Coleman/Kenny) while Gueye protects the left-back . in the absence of McCarthy, it could be Davies and Baningime can provide cover for Gueye. The front 3 should be: Tosun, Walcott, & Sigurdsson:

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Keane Garbutt
Davies Rooney Gueye
Sigurdsson
Walcott Tosun

Subs: Bolasie, Niasse, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Baningime, Kenny

I suppose the next match against Leicester is too much to hope for.

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Keane Garbutt or Baines
Gueye Baningime or Davies or Rooney
Walcott or Lookman Bolasie or Lookman
Sigurdsson
Tosun

Lookman has been our best player every time he has came on and then been thrown back on the scrappy. Plus I don't get why people are so quick to write off Sandro and we're thinking of getting rid. He's only 22 – give the lad a chance. Ronaldo, Henry, Salah, Van Persie, Suarez didn't smash it straight away and were older than him. COYB – sort it out 💪

Martina is a right-back and would appear to have little future at Everton in left-back position given recent performances.

And so fans, well some anyway, promote Garbutt as the answer to our problems in that position. In six years Garbutt started one Premier League game for Everton. His record with his loan clubs is equally unimpressive, check it out.

I know we are in dire straits but Garbutt? To play alongside Williams or Jagielka. Dear God, please no.

I'm more excited about getting a new Director of Football in at this point. Maybe Walsh is only in year 2 if his 5 year plan to keep us in the 7th position.

I'm glad Unsy, has started to try and make Garbutt a better defender, but talk about neglecting what should be the most important aspect of his game, for all these years.

Modern football, has got way too much money, and nowhere near enough common-sense.

What is a 'left foot'??? Some kind of witchcraft where a player don't use his right foot? I thought all proper Everton players had two proper 'Right Foots' by now...

Heresy! Burn the witch!!!

Is Victor Moses primarily a defender? How about Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia? How about Milne. What about Kyle Walker, Mendy and Danilo?

Fullbacks are meant to be attacking players that can get forward and also get back to help defend, not primarily be defenders.

My black cat told me about it! ooops!

I quite agree! Full-backs should be able to defend, but when utilized they should be attacking threats like Coleman used to be.

We need that overlap on both the left and right that Baines and Pienaar used to provide on the left in ages gone by, though!

I don't know how good Garbutt is defensively, but he has to be better than Martina in that left-back position! The opposition is usually wise to our players, and they don't even bother to assume Martina might try to go left instead of making a total stop to get the ball onto his right foot for any pass...

So that was why my black cat was so happy with me commenting before she even had her evening food ready... Being a familiar is hard work! ;D

It is interesting to note how Garbutt's reputation among our supporters appears to have been enhanced the longer his absence from first team action. This is a player who has played a grand total of five league matches for our club and none since 2014-15. His loan spells in 2015-16 at Fulham (25 league matches) and in 2016-17 at Wigan (8 league matches) were none too successful.

Assuming we are unable to sign a suitable left back it makes sense to register him this month simply to provide some cover. I would hesitate however to suggest a player who struggled in the lower reaches of The Championship will be any better than Martina.

The likes of Galloway, Garbutt and Browning couldn't have done any worse in the absence of Baines but somehow Martina still keeps the position and the defence is still all at sea.

So Luke Garbutt has been at Everton for years, plays full-back, and only recently has somebody decided to work on the defensive side of his game?

I didn't realise Browning was left-footed as I remember him coming on in a derby match and playing at right-back and doing quite well (or did I imagine this?)!

If he is, letting both him and Galloway go out on loan to the same club, not registering Garbutt and relying on a over 30s Baines to play 3 matches in just over a week at times is absolutely complete dereliction of duty by somebody!!! Especially with Funes Mori unfit and the left-footed Barry being allowed to leave!

Incredible if that is the case. No, I mean ridiculously unprofessional and short-sighted!

To pin our hopes on a left back who hasn't played top flight football for at least two years is pure madness and I hope the search goes on, if it has been going on, until 11:00 pm next Wednesday night.

Allardyce has been here about seven weeks and he's just had a look at Garbutt now, and he's played Martina since he got here – this doesn't make sense at any level at any club.

Like you, I hope we are looking for a good left-back!

But if we get half the crosses into the box that he does for the U23s, then I'll happily cheer his continued presence! Martina provides none of those!

It really is the kiss of death and the only one ever to come back improved was Ossie and that was years ago.

Garbutt is no exception – so don't build your hopes up about his being better than Martina although that wouldn't require much, would it?

If we have to wait until the summer for someone we have lined up, so be it. However, we can't just write this season off yet.

Get a decent loanee in at the very least.

I used to think like you! But unlike even 10 years ago, we now keep getting these good youngsters in, like on a treadmill! And they leave at a slower rate! So if they don't work out in the end, we'll get good money for letting them go, at least!

Chelsea have loads of youngsters out on loan every season... Everton seem to dip into that...

I think that comment is a little unfair, legendary status, no, desperation, yes. Plus, they did play quite well when turning out for Everton, albeit ages ago.

I have seen a couple of games that Garbutt has played in this season and he looks defensively okay, and a does have a very good delivery on him. Yes, it may be the Under-23s, but we are desperate!

I think academies provide almost everything, but I'm not sure they create enough real competitive football, which is imperative, if a kid is going to make the grade. The lower you go, the more it changes, and once the standard drops, sometimes it's less about ability, and more about being able to roll up your sleeves, and do the dirty side of the game?

Osman was 23, so Everton were obviously very patient with him, and Seamus Coleman, was very raw, and the total opposite of so many of these pampered kids coming through the academy.

I don't think England or not having anyone reliable in front of him did him any favours; however, not to have someone in to challenge his position and then to try and soldier on without him in a hope that he recaptures his form of the Pienaar days is just plain daft and senseless.

Good luck to Garbutt if he gets his chance; otherwise, I can see more millions being wasted on no better than the players we have out on loan.

He will look a better player – he's got better players around him. Good riddance if you ask me. So-called blue... my arse!

I've heard it all now.

It would be great if Galloway could also be brought back into the team and get some game time at centre-back. He couldn't of done much worse than Williams this season.

We're farming players out into their early twenties when really they should be holding down first team places in The Premier League at that age if they're good enough.

You may be right, but average is better than below average, and you never know, some players have something to prove. For me, it is all about the alternatives, or lack of!

Also, we need more depth in the left-back area regardless. What happens if both Baines and Martina are out!?

Hope he takes full advantage.

Baines may have lost some pace, but he has never been "disinterested" or unwilling in any way. Gives maximum effort every minute he's on the pitch, always has, always will. And he's been playing through ankle and calf injuries for the better part of three seasons.

"This is not a recent phenomenon"?? Damn right. It's not a phenomenon at all. It's pure crapola.

Once again, we are settling for a Championship standard instead of going balls out to get a decent left-back... and yes, there are plenty out there and money talks.

The other one I think is concerning is advocating Keane back in the side. Since he came, the lad has been a liability and certainly worse than Jagielka or Williams.

The good old Bobby Brown Shoes days, or the bad ones?

I've read the posts slagging off Garbutt as he hasn't been playing in the Premier League. But we get excited when we see us linked with the left-back at Bristol City.

Get real. Of course a natural left-sided player used to playing at left back should be given the chance to show what he could do ahead of a 3rd choice right-back. And if he is a success over the next few months we don't have to pay over the odds for a new left-back.

And if, as it seems, there is no left-back available to us who is obviously a better option, then don't moan that we still strengthen other areas of the team.

Garbutt plays, does poorly –Baines will be back til then end of the season and Martina has played there when we've won so could do so again.

Garbutt plays, does okay – we buy a new left back in the Summer while he either gets a move or Baines goes.

Garbutt plays, does great – we don't need to spend 㿀mil + on a new left back, Baines as cover from the Summer.

People slating him need to give him a chance, the demands of this league are different to the Championship and he might do well.

If not we know he needs to move on.

I hope he does well, rather save the money and spend elsewhere if he's good enough.

We all know Leighton's past it. Injury has neutralized that great left foot of his for 3-4 years now. And even under Moyes, Baines was at best an adequate defender. Moyes had him out there on that flank to attack, not defend.

But Leighton Baines "disinterested?"

Mike described that accurately. Pure bollocks.

Past it or not, when Baines's number is called he goes out there now as he did in his pomp; giving his all.

Les was out of line there and got called on it. Correctly.

Hopefully Garbutt will get a run in the team and will concentrate on defending before bombing it up the pitch.

As for Baines, let's be honest, he is an absolute shadow of his former self. He doesn't even take corners, free kicks or penalties anymore as other players have moved ahead of him. He's not as mobile as he once was, his general play seems more negative and his crossing ability has deteriorated.

He's been a great player for us over the years but we should have shipped him out a season or so ago when he still had a decent resale value.

Galloway needed to be put on loan where he could become a centre-back (and bulk up in the gym) or kept as a back up for Baines. I can't believe we've had no cover for Baines for over two freaking years.

He came close and had he had money at his disposal, during his reign, instead of bringing in the likes of Alcaraz and Niasse (who based on our recent signings would be considered a success but then were considered to be flops) we might have got players who move us on that 5% toward greatness.

His patter became thin but he didn't have the resources go back up his positivity. So many wasted opportunities, so Everton.

If he picks these two against Leicester, I will be fuming, these are the joint cause of the poor play recently; not wholly, but is tantamount to playing with nine men.

How can we all see this and those who have a chance to do something about it just carry on playing the same old pathetic rubbish.

I was never a great advocate of Sam getting the job and I started to think he had proved me wrong. He is on borrowed time in my opinion; if we beat the drop, I think he will be made to part company with us.

Sadly, this news means we will not be bringing in a quality left-back. Great planning again Everton FC. Our motto should be changed to 'Let's just make do and hope for the best'.

Thanks, Bill

"Barkley has a lot of space for improvement, he is working with us only two weeks but for sure today I was forced to make this substitution, but he can improve a lot."

Bloody hell – that didn't take long.

Guessing signing Barkley wasn't Conte's idea!

Then, they wait until three weeks into the window to have the bright idea to actually register him. Would this happen at any other top club? I seriously doubt it.

Come on Everton, get a move on and be professional for once in your lives!! Good luck to Luke.

Another Rodwell in the making.

Not to worry though, at the end of the day they'll be back as part of Finch Farm coaching staff with the likes of Ferguson and (let me kiss the Arsenal badge, Jeffers).

The Future's Bright.

That's completely inaccurate.

Bainesy scored on penalties in the last two games before he was injured, that dramatic gamewinner against Watford and the leveller against Palace.

And he continued to take all the corners from the right side... Calvert-Lewin's tying goal against Watford was off an in-swinging Baines corner.

I have no doubt he will resume those duties once healthy.

1 Great to see Seamus play against Portsmouth. He looked at ease and contributed when needed. As much as we badly need him back I really would be hesitant to include him against Leicester or Arsenal unless he is truly fit again. Only he knows that!

2 Garbutt also looked relaxed and showed why it is important to have a natural left-footer. If he is up to it that would be great but again there are question marks about what he can contribute.Is he Premier League level ? Unsworth seems confident and also feels he has improved.

3. Barkley has gone and is no longer an Everton player. Personally, I don't like to see people gloat when he doesn't have a good game. I don't think he has lived up to expectations but that doesn't have to be celebration time for Evertonians. Players move all the time. He chose to leave. I don't think most of us really know why. I don't care how many good games he has as long as they are not against Everton. We have enough to worry about without bothering about ex-players.

Unsworth's comments on improving the defensive side of Garbutt's game are telling. I'd put him in and see how he does, with (as other have noted) someone who can give him some protection in front of him. And for those who are hankering after bringing Galloway back, forget it. His confidence is shot and he can't make the bench at Sunderland most weeks. Putting him in would guarantee we'd be playing Sunderland next season.

As for Garbutt, if he as a specialist left back cannot do better at the job than a guy who was recently Southampton's third choice right back you have to ask why the hell we're employing him!

As for not signing a top quality left-back in this window I'm hoping that the Board may have pulled the plug on Allardyce's spending because they intend replacing him in four months time with someone who they trust more with the Club's money!

I think it is time to be realistic about these sorts of things, and if we can refrain from "hounding" transfer targets, that might be a good idea too.

The best left sided defensive player in the Premier League is Marco Alonso and, unfortunately, Andrew Robertson seems to be making great strides in his progress. If we can locate any like them in another league, I would take them over the likes of Rose, Bertrand and Shaw any day, who would cost a fortune even if you could attract them to EFC in the near future.

I am a little surprised that Luke Garbutt seems to have become such a defensive liability since his Everton debut that his apparent attacking attributes haven't been considered as mitigating. He must have a terrible tendency to switch off because I don't recall his tackling and heading ability being particularly bad.

Hopefully he has been able to work on his faults because he is obviously now the option we are relying on to make Cuco surplus to requirements on the left flank.

We can see it, why the hell can't Sam see it?