David Moyes told one area he needs to address above all else at Everton
Everton are hoping to get their season back on track against West Ham on Monday night.
Everton exited the Carabao Cup to Wolves in midweek, which was their third match in a row that they failed to win.
David Moyes had led the Blues to a positive start, with Jack Grealish’s Everton exploits winning the Premier League Player of the Month award.
However, they have started to stall, and need to extend the Hammers’ misery at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on 29 September.
Kevin Ratcliffe calls for right-back addition
Everton still need recruits in the transfer market to improve the squad, and there is much debate over where it can be upgraded.
Kevin Ratcliffe, who captained the Blues to two league titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup, believes that they need a new right-back to replace Jake O’Brien.
Speaking with the Liverpool Echo on 29 September, he said: “I look at other teams, other full-backs and other centre-backs and I look at Jake O’Brien and he’s done exceptionally well, he’s been brilliant. But he’s not a right-back.
“I think Jake has been one of our star players this calendar year, but modern day full-backs do bomb on and they’re playing like an added winger with the wide attacking players tucking in.
“As well as he’s done and he’s great at getting in around the back post sometimes and he looks dangerous, I think we need someone with a right-back brain.”
O’Brien has impressed for the Toffees this season, as the Sofascore graphic below highlights.
Everton do need a new right-back
The Blues need to get a new right-back through the door in the winter transfer window, whether that is to replace the Irishman, or to act as back-up.
Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson are the current back-up options, and neither can seem to stay fit for a prolonged period of time.
- Coleman has featured just nine times over the past two seasons
- Patterson has not featured this season, and only made 11 appearances last season
- O’Brien has been a regular at right-back since Moyes took over, with 29 matches under the Scotsman
The Blues have not signed a right-back in a summer window for 20 years, since Phil Neville in 2005, and that was not addressed before the deadline.
O’Brien has been solid, but as Ratcliffe says, he is not a natural right-back, and he does lack the attacking tendencies that the modern full-back brings to a team.
It would be unfair to axe him on his current form, but ultimately, the Toffees need to, if they are to move forward into the top-half and potentially European qualification.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Everton news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @goodisonnews