Imagine Liverpool without Virgil van Dijk. Imagine Arsenal without Gabriel Magalhães. Imagine your best defender being missing for over half of a season.
For Everton, that nightmare scenario has been a reality.
Jarrad Branthwaite is Everton’s best defender. He elevates not just the back line, but the team as a whole.
His partnership with James Tarkowski has been one of the best in the Premier League across the past couple of seasons.
Branthwaite has it all. Pace, stature, strength. He is excellent with the ball at his feet, and as a left-footer (albeit, one who is equally as comfortable using his right foot), he provides a natural balance to the defence.
Michael Keane has played relatively well this season, but as has been discussed before, his partnership with Tarkowski is not sustainable. Jake O’Brien, when given the chance to play in his preferred position at centre-back, has done well.
But Branthwaite is a level above them all, and when he came on for the second half against Leeds United, that was clear.
David Moyes did not want to call on the 23-year-old so early on in the game, but given how bad Everton’s first-half display was, he had little choice. Everton needed to match Leeds up, and Branthwaite came in to what was nominally a three-man defence, albeit O’Brien played as a hybrid right-back/centre-back, with Nathan Patterson playing ahead of him as a wing-back/midfielder.
Interestingly, it was a similar system to the one Moyes deployed when he first returned to Everton last year, playing O’Brien between the two roles, and it was a revelation.
With Branthwaite back, and Moyes seemingly so reluctant to use Tyler Dibling from the start — and Dwight McNeil, surely, deserving to be dropped — it is a system Moyes may well fall back on in the weeks to come.
Because Branthwaite has to play. He transforms Everton both in and out of possession.
His pace allows him to act as the covering defender for Tarkowski, who can go and engage in aerial duels and look to intercept aggressively.
Branthwaite only had six defensive involvements against Leeds, but that was all he needed to do. Once he had settled after 15 minutes, he looked incredibly comfortable — you would have been forgiven for forgetting this was his first competitive appearance since May.
But it was in possession that Branthwaite really showed his worth.
Branthwaite attempted 56 passes, completing 49 of those (88%). He played 41 passes in Leeds’ half, completing 35 (85%). Three of his four long balls were accurate (75%). The centre-back also played one key pass.
His pass map, too, tells its own story. Branthwaite was focused on channeling Everton down the left, with vertical, crisp passing. Once Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall — a fellow half-time substitute — cottoned onto this, he was dropping into space as an option.
Perhaps that persistence down Everton’s left, is what stretched Leeds enough to then see the Toffees exploit a gap down the right — Dewsbury-Hall slipping in Idrissa Gueye, whose centre was prodded home by Thierno Barry.
Everton’s form at Hill Dickinson Stadium is a worry, but a huge issue is when they have to chase games. Branthwaite helps with that. First and foremost, the defence is less likely to concede when he is in it, and secondly, when the onus is on Everton, he provides them with a quality ball-playing defender to start attacks and pass through the thirds.
This should suit Dewsbury-Hall especially, given how adept the former Chelsea man is at finding space between the lines. It is a crying shame that Jack Grealish is now injured, because he too, would surely have relished playing on the same side as Branthwaite.
Everton will hopefully improve in one of the full-back areas, and/or in attack, before the close of the window.
Yet the importance of Branthwaite being back in the fold cannot be underestimated. The crucial thing now is for him to stay fit.
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Posted
29/01/2026 at
16:58:54
A three-man defence?
O’Brien went to the right and, when Patterson came off, he became an out-and-out right-back. With Tarkowski and Branthwaite in the middle, Mykolenko on the left. It was never less than four.
The day our boy Davey goes three at the back is still to dawn…
Posted
29/01/2026 at
17:42:47
He really did make such an impression in such a short time.
If he keeps it up, and he (+ KDH) can just stay fit we should certainly be looking upwards.
Mr Tuchel should also be very interested, though that would mean the ‘big guys’ with their agents would start sniffing around again, meaning there’s a risk of his head being turned. Trying to avoid the risk of that scenario is a big part of the case for us being in Europe next season.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
18:38:53
Branthwaite looked like he’d never been away against Leeds, so composed and his passing to feet superb, and gives us so much pace at tge back, hopefully he’s over his hamstring problem now, wouldn’t be too optimistic of Tuchel picking him, he overlooked him for the Euro’s.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
18:57:48
Christy,
A rolls royce of a player,his pace allows us to play higher up the pitch as well.
Easy to see the kid played in midfield until he was 15/16,he sees the pass and has the quality to play it.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:07:45
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:11:57
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:14:00
Every day.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:15:25
The hook was baited a fast bite. 🙂
Your monitoring skills are to be admired
Try again.Did we play a higher defensive line second half v Leeds?
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:24:38
Which hook and which bite 1907-1911 is only three minutes.
“Did we play a Higher defensive line up in the second half V Leeds ?”…Than what ?
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:26:40
Your maths,as well as your monitoring skills, is also to be admired 🙂
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:27:49
Yes they are. I afforded you a minute to type. I’ll give you a day to think though
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:30:23
Of course we played higher up the pitch in the second half. We were 1-0 down.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:35:48
Woah, easy tiger 🙂
Any chance of an answer on how high we played second half v Leeds?
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:37:04
Tiger, 11
Back of the class.
It was two minutes
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:43:24
Give that man a lolipop. Of course we did. We were chasing the game.
We played the same line we did in the second half against Brentford, Newcastle and Spurs. Risky, but you have to do it. Especially when the crowd had boo’d you off at half time.
The way we set up from the start must have been acutely embarrassing for those who have never seen Tarkowski live and insisted we would play 10 yards higher.
Two minutes ?. I guess I over estimated you
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:46:58
Off topic. But it looks like De Zerbe is losing his job at Marseille. I’d be all over bringing him to Everton
Posted
29/01/2026 at
19:59:15
But you posted on the Leeds article before the game”Even with the fastest player at the club playing, Branthwaite, he won’t be able to drag Tarkowski higher up the pitch, wild horses would be needed”
Which one are you going with?
Posted
29/01/2026 at
20:24:06
Keep up Jethro
I also said he would need a gun to his head to come out to play. That came in the form of certain defeat. The wild horses came in the form of 52000 boos You are ok with metaphors ?
Branthwaite or no Branthwaite. Tarkowski will not come out to play at Brighton. Unless we get a corner, He will do what it says on his tin and defend his penalty…Right from the off.
I hope Jarrod doesnt get rushed back… Like last time, but if he gets the nod. He better bring a fucking tug boat if he thinks he can get Tarks to start further up the pitch.
“Which one are you going with ?”… I’m going with both. Not with a belief, but with a certain knowledge.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
20:26:26
Branthwaite makes Tarks look like jack Duckworth is shorts !!
I honestly believe it’s time to let tarks have a rest, watching him now we want to be more progressive is just showing his limitations.
Even O’brien doesn’t fill me with confidence with the ball at his feet, jarred coming on at HT just showed how much better he is than any other CB or defender we have.
If we can keep him after the Summer a partner on his level would be on my shopping list !
Posted
29/01/2026 at
20:35:10
Is Metaphors a centre half?
Posted
29/01/2026 at
20:38:52
Nite Jethro
Posted
29/01/2026 at
20:50:34
Buenas noches El Tigre 🙂
Posted
29/01/2026 at
21:34:35
Buy a fucking attacking right back
Buy a fucking attacking left back
Buy a fucking centre forward
Start there. Move forward. Just buy anyone. Even spend a few million. Just get some bodies in.
Do the same in the summer
Or….as per usual…..do absolutely fuck all and hope for the best Everton. And when wonder why a shithouse factory like Leeds fucking United make the club look like bastard amateurs. At home. In the league. 👍👏
SORT. IT. OUT
Posted
29/01/2026 at
21:59:56
Nah we don’t need “Bodies ” We’ve got Bodies, buying Bodies leaves you with dead bodies that you can’t dispose of.
Think Beto, tosun, maupay, gabamin, rondon, bolasie, Walcott, sandro
The list of Bodies that have cost us is ridiculous,
We don’t need Bodies we need quality!
I’d rather us wait for the right signings, signings that can make an impact on the team over a long period.
Yes a loan or 2 would be nice to help, at RB especially if there’s no viable long term targets available.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
22:39:53
Amen, David #24.
No stopgaps. No fill-ins. No Cucos.
Quality and quality only.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
23:02:04
Was it that we played a higher line in the second half, or was it that we set out to control the speed of play that made the difference, or both. It seemed to me that Moyes had told them at half time to slow the pace of the game down and put Leeds off their high speed transformation that had been stuffing us up in the first half?
Great to see Branthwaite and Dewsbury Hall back. I felt Gana Gueye and Ndiaye were a little off pace but still did a job, particularly Gueye’s cross to Barry for the goal.
With Barry scoring again, Jarrad and DH back, Keane finishing his red card ban etc, Patterson playing reasonably well ——- that we won’t see any new faces in the team until July/August. (unless Beto goes??)
Anybody on here got views on how the effect the World Cup might have on the transfer market?
Posted
29/01/2026 at
23:22:31
I understand that Owners/ Management want to undertake the second stage of a squad rebuild in the lengthier more commercial Summer market.
For what its worth I think stage 1 was a very mixed bag, some credits, some questionable additions, and some glaring misses in gaps that needed to be filled.
That said, I dont see why a progressive management team wouldnt want to seek to add some quality, some impetus, even if only short term loans ( but better if could mange quality additions), in this window, particularly given the opportunity when European places are so beckoning.
No panic buys. No big financial outlay. Just some fresh impetus, showing some ambition.
It feels like a lack of ambition at the moment. Hope the next few days prove me wrong.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
23:34:44
Imagine Liverpool without Virgil van Dijk? A lot better without twerki I would imagine 😀
Posted
29/01/2026 at
23:50:24
Off topic, I read Ndiaye has been banned for 2 matches for his part in Senegal’s walk off in AFCON final.
Posted
29/01/2026 at
23:53:23
Ian @ 27, it’s just a shame we haven’t got a progressive management team
Posted
29/01/2026 at
23:58:01
Are we likely to get much in the way of quality if we have nothing to offer players, other than a bog standard premier league campaign?
Most quality players are looking to play European football, which many think we would be foolish to qualify for at the moment
Posted
30/01/2026 at
00:51:16
Ian #27, since management has pretty much trashed the idea of major buys in this window, loans are the obvious path. You need three other elements besides ambition to pull one off. You need to identify quality players who will make us better, and whose salaries are affordable. You need a club willing to loan them out. And you need a player who wants to come.
It’s not easy. I looked it up — only five non-goalkeepers have been brought in on loan across the entire PL in this window, the headliners being Douglas Luiz and James Ward-Prowse. So finding a midseason loan for right back or forward may seem obvious, but it’s anything but.
Posted
30/01/2026 at
01:05:12
John #29, what I read is that Ndiaye and Sarr got two-match bans for referee abuse. Ndiaye wouldn’t have been involved in the walk-off because he’d already been subbed out.
Also, these are African matches that don’t affect Ili’s eligibility for Everton.
Posted
30/01/2026 at
01:11:39
January buys.
Think Coleman, Jelavic, Pienaar, Donavan and Arteta,
We are told we have a world class recruitment team and analytics department,. But, if we buy a player in January the same team will deliver us a a panic-buy, a body, stop-gap, fill-in? Explain that logic.
At present, we have fundamental structural gaps in the fullback, striker and now left wing positions. The refusal to address these issues would be inexplicable if we didn’t already know the reason.
No, not the adherence to our “long-term plan”. The payment of a 43 million dividend to TFG’s parent company means we don’t have the money.
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