We’re into the second weekend of the first international break of the season, which is a a double, allowing for national teams to play four games during the break.
This weekend the RBM team are discussing Everton’s best players this season. The Toffees are unbeaten after five games, with two wins and three draws so far. Their nine points puts them in seventh place in a cluster of four teams, with another couple just behind them.
With that in mind, for this edition of the roundtable, we asked the RBM
writers the following questions –
Which player has impressed you the most early on? Do you think they’re at their ceiling already or will they get even better as the season progresses?
Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Geoff –
I think the most consistent performers have been Jarrad Branthwaite, Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong although the first two have only made nine starts between them. I’d plump for Armstrong even though he had a mediocre game last time out. He has made a difference to the energy levels and adds a bit of everything in terms of ball recovery, pressing and ball retention. Clearly lacks confidence at this level to take too many shots which is a pity as I have seen him do it at youth level (a hat-trick in the Youth Cup two years ago stands out).
I think Harrison Armstrong is a way off his ceiling. He’s unlikely to be affected by stardom and the trappings and attention that goes with it, so I’d expect him to get better as time goes on. Whether he gets tired is another matter and that might affect performance so when Christian Norgaard is eventually available we may see James Garner or Hayden Hackney more involved in the hybrid #6/#8 role.
Pat –
Tyrique George. He’s a young and creative goalscoring threat who certainly does not lack confidence at the age of 20. Moyes has his favorites and has not been the greatest endorsement for our young players during his second stint at the club, but George has already shown what he can do, and we can only hope Moyes will continue to let him do so.
John –
Special mention to Thierno Barry, he can score and has had chances, while Tyler Dibling’s performance against Wolves is certainly encouraging, but I have to go with Jarrad Branthwaite. Calm, collected and such a stabilising presence at the back, should he stay injury free then he has the ability to be the best defender in the Premier League.
Brian F –
Jarrad Branthwaite continues to exceed even my lofty expectations. His defense, distribution and contributions on set pieces are all major factors in our unbeaten start, and there is even more to come. Assuming he can stay healthy I expect JB continue to improve and to be in the discussion for the Premier League Best XI at the end of the campaign.
Kevin –
Encouragingly, many of the club’s youngsters have caught the eye in the early stages of the campaign. Vacancies in the starting eleven have allowed Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong to continue their impressive showings from preseason, with the former having improved substantially since getting minimal exposure on loan during the latter half of last term. George has a great combination of pace, directness and power which gives him a high ceiling as a player, whilst Armstrong possesses a calmness and composure on the ball which is unusual in a 19-year-old.
Both are major talents, and Tyler Dibling has shown in the last two outings just why Everton decided to spend an initial £35m on him just over a year ago. It’s going to be exciting watching the trio develop as the season progresses. So long as these players are given sufficient game time, all should continue to improve with experience, promising much for the future of the team.
Although no youngster at 24, Hackney has shown flashes of the drive and ingenuity from midfield that the Blues have been lacking for many years; I’m convinced that he will have a big part to play this season. It’s no surprise also, that the defence looks more solid with the fit-again Jarrad Branthwaite back in harness. Keeping the big man out of the treatment room will be a challenge, but so far so good.
Deadline day signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles announced himself as an Everton player with his last-gasp wonder goal against United. It’s early days for the ex-Arsenal man, but it’s noticeable how much more balanced the team looks with an actual decent right back in the lineup. Thierno Barry continues to divide fan opinion, but the Frenchman has two goals in five league games, a hattrick in the cup and looks stronger and happier than he was for much of last term. Encouraging signs, and with last season’s two best performers, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall yet to find their true form, there’s much to be pleased with so far.
Calvin –
Squad veterans Jordan Pickford and Jack Grealish haven’t received much love from the RBM crew here, but they are both playing at a high level. However, it’s another ageing player that has really impressed me – club captain James Tarkowski. In a year where we almost all expected that he would regress, Tarky has been solid. There have still been the occasional brain farts here and there, but for the most part he has cleared all before him.
Tarkowski sits atop WhoScored’s defender ratings, averaging 2.2 tackles, 2.8 interceptions, 4.6 clearances, 0.6 shots blocked and 0.4 passes blocked per 90, most of those numbers put him in the top rankings. There is the argument that Branthwaite has made him better in ways that Michael Keane would not, but despite Everton ranking middle of the pack in chances given up, they have only conceded three times so far and that puts them tied top of the league.
Special mention to Vitaliy Mykolenko as well. He had a brutal preseason and filled us all with terror going into the season with him as the only option at left back. However, he has been very good to start the season and we can only hope that the injury that cut short his Ukraine tour of duty is a minor knock that is resolved before next week’s trip to Hull City.
