Sean Dyche may be forced to axe James Tarkowski from Everton side as stats prove he’s getting worse
James Tarkowski has been handed the captain’s armband in his second season at Everton while Seamus Coleman is out, showing his importance to the side.
After arriving on a free transfer from Burnley last summer he immediately made it into the starting lineup and his performances were rightly praised by everyone.
Frank Lampard made him the first-choice option in that role and he earned it, starting alongside the likes of Yerry Mina, Michael Keane, Be Godfrey and Conor Coady.
But while he is the undisputed number one centre-back at the club by reputation, his performances are beginning to drop and it’s showing with fans questioning whether he may be over the hill.
Goodison News took a look at the stats via WhoScored.com and they show that while it’s not by a lot, the former England international is in fact getting worse defensively.
In the 2022/23 season Tarkowski was averaging more tackles per game, less fouls per game, more clearances per game and more blocks per game compared to the current 2023/24 campaign. He is however averaging more interceptions and being dribbled past less this season.
If the trend continues it won’t be a good thing for Everton, and Dyche may have to consider dropping him for the upcoming games with a relegation battle looking more and more likely right now.
In his defence though, he is better on the ball this season.
He has already matched his season tally of one assist from last season, and is averaging more passes per game, more key passes per game and more successful long balls per game – which is something Dyche will be a fan of.
There are pros and cons, and unlike last season we don’t have an abundance of options in the position.
Maybe a switch to a back three could help him and Dyche has tried it a couple of times, but it would mean the club need to dip into the transfer market in January for extra options.
It’s something to watch, because if our best player’s from last season are getting worse then it will only get even more difficult to stay up come May.
In other Everton news, Patrick Boyland shares release clause news in Jarrad Branthwaite’s new contract.