Everton fans in the Transfer Tavern have been arguing with our landlord over whether their side can make a late bid for the Champions League spots.

Ronald Koeman’s side are unbeaten in their last three games but injuries striking at the wrong time and recent defeats to high flying Tottenham and arch rivals, Liverpool, have ensured that the Toffees have remained in seventh place in the Premier League.

Our landlord has lamented the luck of Ronald Koeman’s side which has seen major problems occur in his defence and although his side have the fifth best defence in the Premier League, the performances they have put up against opposition with more quality has really stifled the Toffees’ progress.

With that said, our resident Everton punters in the Tavern feel this season has been a good starting point for Koeman’s era in charge of their club and they are already excited to see what next season brings. The main attraction is the form of the youth produced by the club which has really staked a claim for first team spots.

The young players that have impressed our landlord include defenders Matthew Pennington and Mason Holgate and whilst putting together the potential defence for the game against West Ham on Saturday, it’s fair to say that these two players have crossed his mind.

Let’s take a look at the defence our landlord believes should start for the Toffees on Saturday…

RB: Mason Holgate

The youngster has found himself in the Everton side as a replacement for Seamus Coleman who experienced a horrendous leg break whilst on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

Our landlord has outlined this to be a big chance for Holgate to really prove his worth to Ronald Koeman and whilst he has not done a bad job thus far, a good game against West Ham will increase his pedigree as a Premier League right back.

CB: Ashley Williams

The Welshman has been very consistent for Ronald Koeman’s side since his summer move from relegation battlers, Swansea City.

Whilst Williams is a good all round defender, what really stands out to our resident Toffees in the Tavern are his organisational skills – even when club captain, Phil Jagielka, misses out. There is no doubting his worth to the club and our landlord expects him to be in a for a key battle against West Ham’s Andy Carroll in this one.

CB: Phil Jagielka

The club captain is in some goal scoring form at the minute and this combined with his assured defensive displays have seen him force his way back to the top of Ronald Koeman’s team sheet of late.

The Everton fans in the Tavern will always love Jagielka and they could not be happier that their man has found some form at the business end of the season.

LB: Leighton Baines

An ever dependable member of Everton’s back four, our landlord has no doubt that Baines will start at left back on Saturday.

In fulfilling every role asked of him, the Englishman has endeared himself to the Goodison Park faithful and really is a legend of the football club.