Everton supporters in the Transfer Tavern are very much looking forward to their side’s clash with in-form Newcastle United in the Premier League this evening, what with the Toffees seeking to finish an ultimately underwhelming campaign on a high.
Sam Allardyce’s men sit ninth in the division ahead of this evening’s meeting with the North East giants, having won just 11 of their 34 league games so far this term, nine of which coming at Goodison Park. However, the Toffees have failed to win either of their last two home games against Manchester City and Liverpool, and following a 1-1 draw at struggling Swansea City last time out, our resident Evertonians will be hoping that their team can get back to winning ways against Rafa Benitez’s Magpies tonight.
Thus, there is much anticipating amongst our resident Everton fans ahead of this evening’s encounter, with Allardyce’s side well aware that victory would take them above Leicester City into eighth place in the table.
In the meantime though, there has been much for those Toffees supporters lining up at the bar to get their teeth into, not least recent reports suggesting that defender Luke Garbutt will be allowed to leave the club this summer.
Yet the Merseysiders should forget about sanctioning the 24-year-old’s departure during the close season, as there’s only one defender Everton should be selling this summer, namely Cuco Martina.
The 28-year-old was signed by former boss Ronald Koeman last summer at the expiration of his contract at Southampton, and the fact that the Saints were willing to let him leave on a free should have been the clearest indication possible that he wasn’t going to be good enough for Everton.
And so it has proved, with the Curacao international starting just 20 times in the Premier League this season, and ultimately failing to do enough to keep the likes of Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines out of the side upon their respective returns from injury.
Yes, Martina has often had to fill in at left back this term due to the latter’s injury troubles, and while that isn’t his most natural position, he has still struggled defensively and rarely gave an option in attack, both of which what Baines and Coleman do to great effect when in the team.
The 28-year-old has been an unused substitute in each of Everton’s last five league games to further underline his struggles to dethrone the aforementioned duo from the first team, and while Baines is 33 and perhaps entering the twilight of his career, Martina hasn’t shown enough to be considered a genuine long-term replacement for the Englishman.
Whereas Garbutt, a left back by trade, hasn’t even earned a Premier League appearance this term despite being a natural left back in a position they have struggled to fill in Baines’ absence, and at the tender age of 24, he’d surely be a better long-term option for Allardyce to explore.
As such, Everton must forget about selling Garbutt, as there’s only one defender who should be leaving Goodison Park this summer, namely 28-year-old Martina.
Everton fans… what do you think? Let us know!
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