Opinion
He is not a marquee, big-name signing. He is not a mercurial attacking talent. But James Tarkowski is exactly what Everton need.
Departing Burnley on a free, now led by multiple Premier League-winning captain Vincent Kompany, after a disastrous campaign that finalised the seemingly immovable Clarets’ drop out of the top flight, Tarkowski will have a point to prove at relegation rivals Everton.
Frank Lampard’s decision to draft in the two-time England international is a clear indication of his intention to solidify last season’s fifth leakiest defence, which was the clubs Achilles heel.
Everton shipped 66 goals in 2021-22, a major factor why they slid down into the drop zone for the season. Five goals conceded three times – against Watford, Spurs and Arsenal – three goals conceded seven times – against Aston Villa, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Newcastle, Burnley and Brentford – and a single four-nil thrashing at the hands of fiercest rivals Liverpool.
It was a calamitous campaign for an Everton defence that, at least on paper, should not have been. Yet, here we are. Ten errors led to a goal, with Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey leading the way in that department with two apiece, five errors that led to a shot and an abysmal eight clean sheets, it was a campaign to forget, and to learn from, for everyone at the back.
And so, while he may not move the needle or achieve record-breaking shirt sales, Tarkowski is the perfect signing.
A six-year tutelage at the Sean Dyche school of defence has primed Tarkowski into one of the Premier League’s most underrated and reliable defenders. Last year, in 32 games for a Burnley side that, yes, did get relegated, he kept seven clean sheets as the Clarets conceded fewer goals than Everton (53) despite their doomed fate.
While the defender has an error in his game, as his two errors leading to goal last season highlight, he adds a level of assurance and consistency to an Everton backline that has critically lacked those attributes. Alongside either one of Michael Keane, Yerry Mina or Ben Godfrey he will prove a sturdy partner that will expertly marshall the back-four into the best shape and position to limit opposition attacks, as well as place himself in the best possible position to clean up any threats, evidenced by his 5.2 clearances and 1.4 interceptions per game last season.
Tarkowski traditionally operates on the right-side of a back-two, often to accommodate for his defensive partner, the left-footed Ben Mee. His affinity for this side of the pitch means that he has history dealing with some of the Premier League’s most creative and talismanic talents, like Jack Grealish and Wilfred Zaha, who operate in and around that left-hand channel, and either winning these battles outright or making the match-up extremely difficult for his opposition.
By parking up on the right of the defence, he will take up, more often than not, the strongest attacking players from the opposition and focus on their nullification, allowing his other defenders to worry about their own individual jobs.
But it will also allow him to naturally progress the ball forward in attack, something he has developed a skill for throughout his career but that wasn’t allowed to flourish due to the limitations of Burnley’s play.
Additionally, he brings that Burnley mentality, lessons, and systems. Borderline concrete, that is the best way to describe Burnley’s resilient and resolute backline at times during the last decade, a nightmare for any side to play against, especially when they restricted the spaces and invited oppositions to relentlessly attack, only to be repelled.
As I mentioned previously, he worked underneath one of the league’s greatest defensive managers, Sean Dyche, and he has the ability to guide and educate everyone at the club in the school of defensive shape, structure, and persistence. Tarkowski can act as a defensive arts lecturer, as well as a sealant, providing a solution to the leaky Everton defence.
He may not be the flashiest transfer the club’s ever made, or the most high profile and he will not automatically fix the other issues plaguing the squad, but he will shore up the defence in a way that will almost guarantee a season like last, at least on the defensive end, isn’t repeated.
He may even give those further forward the confidence to attack and promote the football freely, knowing the calmness and assurance he brings to the backline.
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