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Allardyce urges Garbutt to rekindle career away from Everton
The 24-year-old remains outside of the picture in terms of the senior side after returning to Goodison Park from a couple of loan spells and hasn't made a Premier League appearance for the Blues since the 2014-15 season.
A loan move to Fulham was affected by an ankle injury and he played just eight games for Wigan Athletic last season.
He looked to have been offered hope of reclaiming a place in the first team earlier this season when Allardyce promoted him briefly from the Under-23s as possible cover for the injured Leighton Baines.
Garbutt, whose five-year contract still has two more years to run, failed to convince Allardyce that he was a viable alternative and Cuco Martina continued to deputise for Baines until the veteran was fit regained his fitness.
Garbutt, meanwhile, dropped back to the U23s and finished their season with a goal in Friday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United's U23s.
“He's had a difficult time here and, personally, Luke Garbutt's future is elsewhere,” Allardyce said in the Liverpool Echo today.
“I don't think there is any doubt about that, based on what we've seen that he needs to be looking to move away from the football club and resurrect his career somewhere else because it's not only me who hasn't played him, it's Ronald [Koeman] and, at the back end, Roberto [Martinez].
“So his future is somewhere else and when a player has been languishing as long as he has...he would be out on loan if someone had asked for him and unfortunately for us, no-one asked for him on loan.”
Reader Comments (41)
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2 Posted 22/04/2018 at 22:47:35
He's been at Everton 8-9 seasons now. He's simply no good.
If we're dumping contracts, his needs to be one. Even loaned out to lower leagues, he sucked.
A few days from his 25th birthday, his years-long stealing paychecks from Everton needs to end.
3 Posted 22/04/2018 at 22:56:01
4 Posted 22/04/2018 at 23:04:22
Allardyce is right though. He's almost 25, and if it's not happened now, it's never going to happen and so he needs to drop a level or two.
Good luck to the lad. I hope he can prove everyone wrong.
5 Posted 22/04/2018 at 23:27:54
Everton will end several contracts at the season's conclusion, Allardyce's included, and it's just yet more messy narrative to prove he's right.
Is it a display to help the board realise he's on top of everything or is he just screwing the lad over?
Yet more dirty laundry strewn across Goodison Road.
6 Posted 22/04/2018 at 23:44:17
Shame but this guy is rubbish.
7 Posted 22/04/2018 at 23:59:35
John (#5) Sam talked about Garbutt because he was asked. At least he told it as it is and didn't beat about the bush. No doubt he's been watched by a senior coach and reports would have come in from Unsworth on his performances, or lack of them.
Scouts turn up to U23 games all the time and there have been no offers for Garbutt from anyone. The best thing for him now is to get his agent to find him a club or use the money he's made to go into some sort of business, either way I wish him well.
As for Sam leaving before Garbutt, that maybe the case but, as it stands, Sam is the manager and if he says Garbutt goes then he goes.
8 Posted 23/04/2018 at 02:18:29
9 Posted 23/04/2018 at 03:45:25
10 Posted 23/04/2018 at 03:54:13
11 Posted 23/04/2018 at 04:09:11
No, the player has a contract with the club and the only way to cancel that is for the club and player to agree to be transferred elsewhere and for the player to agree a new contract at his new club. The contracts are not transferred.
What makes you think he wouldn't be paid after this contract ends if he just waits and then agrees to a new contract with a new club?
12 Posted 23/04/2018 at 04:12:07
I know your point about contracts but why should anyone believe he'll make the same money ever again not playing till his contract ends? Or even half?
I'm sure he doesn't understand that but at some point, we should be able to sell him regardless of what he's paid. That's what I meant.
13 Posted 23/04/2018 at 04:27:08
14 Posted 23/04/2018 at 04:44:53
So is yours, lard-ass.
Though I do agree that Garbutt needs to leave. If he couldn't get on the pitch when Baines was hurt with no cover, when will he?
15 Posted 23/04/2018 at 04:49:18
I'm not saying I believe he is a great player. But to be fair to him, you can't play for Everton when injured or out on loan or when you're not part of the first team squad to start this season.
16 Posted 23/04/2018 at 06:04:43
17 Posted 23/04/2018 at 06:49:54
Gives Garbutt a bit of a hammering. Not that any of what he says is wrong, just no need to go to such lengths to say he can leave!
Funny from a man who took offence to public appraisal so recently...
18 Posted 23/04/2018 at 07:36:55
19 Posted 23/04/2018 at 08:28:30
20 Posted 23/04/2018 at 08:39:31
21 Posted 23/04/2018 at 08:45:15
22 Posted 23/04/2018 at 09:13:29
Every day, I wake up and check the headlines looking for his sacking, and every time it's not there, I get the same feeling I did when his name was first linked with us. Utter dread and humiliation.
Everton are going nowhere until we get rid of him. To think he speaks for our club is something I find grossly offensive.
23 Posted 23/04/2018 at 09:45:17
24 Posted 23/04/2018 at 09:45:34
Everything that comes out of his trap is annoying.
25 Posted 23/04/2018 at 09:46:49
26 Posted 23/04/2018 at 11:15:15
However, I cannot understand fans who make assumptions about the player, based on his lack of opportunities on loan elsewhere. Unless, of course, they have taken the trouble to travel to his loan clubs specifically to watch his progress.
Garbutt suffered injuries, I wonder if they hampered his progress? Because the Garbutt I recall, when he first appeared in the first team, looked the 'Real Deal'. He was full of promise. He looked comfortable on the ball, his distribution was good and showed some classy touches for a youngster.
He looked an excellent prospect for the future and it came as no surprise when he was offered a five-year deal. So where did it all go wrong? I for one would love to know.
27 Posted 23/04/2018 at 14:10:19
Sam thought it wise to keep playing Williams and Schneiderlin so he must be correct with Garbutt also, eh!
28 Posted 23/04/2018 at 14:25:07
Your absolutely correct, when I saw Garbutt occupy the left back spot a number of years ago, I believed he was nailed on to make that position his own.
He had it all for a left back, quick, decisive, and he could whip a cross in like Baines at his peak. Somewhere, it certainly has gone wrong for the player, injuries, attitude, loss of form etc.
I guess only those who are close to the player will know the true reasons, still doesn't excuse Allardyce publicly telling him to 'move on', via the back pages of the media.
It could and should have been handled much better, even if it was time for the player to seek pastures new.
29 Posted 23/04/2018 at 14:41:21
For those talking about Garbutt's qualities, you are correct in saying he looks very good with his passing, free kicks etc but he has never been very good defending. Maybe one of the managers he has played under should have tried him as a wide midfielder.
30 Posted 23/04/2018 at 14:49:49
"Where it went wrong" is that he can't defend. He's positionally poor and doesn't mark or tackle well. He showed that with us and during his Fulham loan, and it would appear he never improved, either at Wigan or this season under Rhino.
The other problem, apparently, is that he lacks composure on the ball and turns it over under pressure. According to a former teammate of mine who was a Cottager supporter, that's what infuriated the Fulham fans and once got him subbed off on 34 minutes. When opponents closed down on him, he'd lose it.
31 Posted 23/04/2018 at 16:16:25
That public hammering will do Garbutt's confidence the world of good and will no doubt have a load of agents banging the door down to nail down his services.
32 Posted 23/04/2018 at 16:27:27
Interesting how this tail will manifest in 4 weeks time at the end of this season. The ball could be on the other foot.
Too many media hype stories out there, so let's see if Farhad Moshiri has any words this week about the state of the club.
33 Posted 23/04/2018 at 16:35:06
I watched him in one televised game and he just didn't seem interested in tracking back from a run upfield and the opposition scored. It stuck with me.
I think we have something up at USM Finch Farm like “Hard work will beat talent every time if talent doesn't work hard.†That, for me, sums up Garbutt.
34 Posted 23/04/2018 at 16:40:24
Injuries and a series of loans hamper their careers, and somehow they are still around while they're in their mid twenties, nowhere near the first team squad. Somehow, both of them built up some hype that they should be first teamers but, in reality, they aren't really any good.
McAleny finally left at the end of last season, and dropped down to League One with Fleetwood. It looks like he's done ok, he's probably found his level. I'd expect Garbutt will follow suit if he actually wants to make a career at being a professional footballer.
35 Posted 23/04/2018 at 19:05:55
Fleetwood's new manager should put an edge on Conor's game. Fella named Joey Barton.
36 Posted 23/04/2018 at 20:42:47
Good left foot and a tidy player but lacks the pace, strength and quality of the modern full back required in the Premier league. Its probably the most physically demanding position to play currently. For me that's why we need another top class LB because Baines needs resting. We have Coleman and Kenny at RB and should probably be rotated a bit more to keep in peak condition.
The top leagues have become faster, stronger and more energetic than ever and he's just not got what it takes.
For me Galloway has got what it takes, pace, energy and is naturally a better defender.
I'm surprised both were loaned out and since coming back hasn't had a chance but I'll be
37 Posted 23/04/2018 at 20:58:13
38 Posted 23/04/2018 at 22:42:10
He's the only player we have in the current squad that can cross a fucking ball !.
39 Posted 24/04/2018 at 11:24:29
40 Posted 24/04/2018 at 11:28:56
Anyway, there is no football being played at Everton while Big Sam is in charge.
41 Posted 24/04/2018 at 12:18:37
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1 Posted 22/04/2018 at 22:41:59