Goodison Stats: Holgate’s 1.37 crossing average indicates needed right-back change
It is no secret that Everton are interested in signing a new right-back in the summer, as The Athletic reported earlier this month, with both Seamus Coleman and Mason Holgate struggling to nail down the position.
Club captain Coleman has suffered a number of fitness issues that have kept him sidelined from time to time throughout the season, while Holgate hasn’t been able to impress while playing out of position.
Lucas Digne continues to thrive at left-back for Everton, and his consistent performance levels on Everton’s left flank serve to further underscore Holgate’s deficiencies in that role.
Ever since Carlo Ancelotti succeed Marco Silva in the Goodison Park hot-seat in December 2019, the Italian has encouraged his full-backs to get forward and contribute to his side’s attacking efforts.
However Digne has enjoyed much more success under those instructions than Holgate has managed, and stats from WyScout back this up.
Everton’s French full-back has averaged 5.57 (with 32.8% accuracy) crosses per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, while Holgate has only managed 1.37 (with 23.1% accuracy) under the same scale of measurement.
Digne has also enjoyed more direct involvement in Everton’s attacking efforts, managing 1.68 dribbles per 90 minutes as well as 4.26 (with 37.4% accuracy) passes into the penalty area, compared to Holgate’s 0.79 dribbles and 1.68 (with 31.4% accuracy) passes into the penalty area.
Holgate spent the second half of the 2018/19 season on loan with West Brom where he played right-back exclusively, and the 24-year consistently impressed for the Baggies, with Holgate even later admitting it was the “best thing” he’s ever done [Daily Star].
However then Championship promotion hopefuls West Brom play differently than Everton do, and while Holgate could get away with playing on the flanks for Albion, he can no longer do so for the Toffees.
The former Barnsley man is by no means a player that Everton should consider selling this summer – in fact that is far from the fact. However, Ancelotti must find a new right-back and revert Holgate back to his familiar centre-back role.
In other Everton news, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has blamed Everton for mishandling Davy Klaassen during his time at the club.