James Garner now undroppable claims former Everton captain wowed by 3-1 win at Brentford
James Garner now “has to start” for Everton after the midfielder capped his performance with an assist at Brentford, according to Alan Stubbs.
The former Toffees captain reacted on Twitter on 24 September, the morning after the 3-1 win, to hail the “great result” and give his backing to the England under-21s trophy-winner.
The 22-year-old produced a strong all-round display at the Gtech Community Stadium, and played in Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a perfectly-weighted through-ball late on to secure the result.
Stubbs said: “Great result for the blues!! Three points Wow and looked more positive going forward! Garner has to start in this team.”
Rose to the occasion
Thanks to injuries and sales Garner had started the first four Premier League games of the season under Dyche out on the right, but was dropped from the starting XI for the visit of Arsenal last weekend.
The former Manchester United youngster coming back in at Brentford was the manager’s one change from the 1-0 home defeat, and he repaid the decision.
With creativity something that Everton badly lack at times, Garner could cement his place in the side if he can lay on chances for the strikers that the Toffees finally have available with any regularity.
For so long it was an inability to finish moves off that was the issue for this team, but with Beto brought in to cover if Calvert-Lewin isn’t available it is now service that is arguably the biggest problem.
Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gana Gueye can be formidable in the centre on their day but aren’t likely to unlock many defences.
And while it doesn’t bear thinking about where Everton might be without Abdoulaye Doucouré’s attacking output in the past nine months he is arguably better off driving forward to create chances for himself than others.
Once Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma are fully fit there may well be an argument for including Garner centrally, but whatever happens Dyche needs to ensure there is far more of what his side produced in West London more often this season.
In other Everton news, Brentford were slammed by one BBC pundit for getting beaten by a “poor” Toffees.