James Tarkowski

[Bob Sacamano]

He’s an absolute mutt and I’m sick of the sight of him

[kramer]

Imagine how shit O’Brien must be.

[Juanito]

I’m holding hope Potter comes in, gets O’Brien and Patterson playing well and we can enjoy the last six months of Goodison.

Nothing sums up this regime more than a Tarkowski aimless long ball and Keane upfront

[UnsyisaRhino]

He was poor past night, fell asleep for their first. Didn't spot the danger and didn't even react once the ball went over his head.

The booking was really poor too

[AjaxAndy]

He was poor past night, fell asleep for their first. Didn't spot the danger and didn't even react once the ball went over his head.

The booking was really poor too

Watching it back on MOTD I can't understand why he was where he was for their first. He's so far out of position it's crazy. Just all round awful yesterday from him.

[Kerryblueboy]

So sick of the nearly a red card tackles by this guy on the edge constantly trying to be the hard man needs to cut that shit out

[74Blue]

So sick of the nearly a red card tackles by this guy on the edge constantly trying to be the hard man needs to cut that shit out

Dychenosaur loves all that shit though. Probably has him chewing bricks in training to toughen him up. Meat! Potatoes! If it moves, fucking clog it!

[UnsyisaRhino]

Watching it back on MOTD I can't understand why he was where he was for their first. He's so far out of position it's crazy. Just all round awful yesterday from him.

Honestly, I think he lost focus and by the time he'd realised he fucked up, he knew it was too late for him to get back to make a difference.

[Silas]

Still maintain he should have been dropped and Keane should have stayed in. I know I'm the only person who thinks this but I do

[Cods]

Dychenosaur loves all that shit though. Probably has him chewing bricks in training to toughen him up. Meat! Potatoes! If it moves, fucking clog it!

Love the characterisation, actually laughed... but imagine if we were still as weak as we were at times under Frank, at least we're putting in effort, not spineless and without any kind of comprehensible plan. With this squad it's had to be somewhat simple, even if there could be more thought put into the attacking aspects of the game.

[Risky]

He's mostly been a halfway competent CB for us, aside from the regular stupid challenges which he's mostly got away with. He's been shocking this season though - looked halfway decent for a few games recently with Branthwaite back up to speed alongside him but regressed massively again yesterday.

Michael Keane is never the answer though. We know we'll get a run of games where he's ok, then he'll have a meltdown. Even in his decent games he's always on the edge of doing something stupid and clearly panics his defensive partners as well. How anyone expects anything other than that when he's the age he is and after the amount of time he's played for us is beyond me.

[AjaxAndy]

He's mostly been a halfway competent CB for us, aside from the regular stupid challenges which he's mostly got away with. He's been shocking this season though - looked halfway decent for a few games recently with Branthwaite back up to speed alongside him but regressed massively again yesterday.

Michael Keane is never the answer though. We know we'll get a run of games where he's ok, then he'll have a meltdown. Even in his decent games he's always on the edge of doing something stupid and clearly panics his defensive partners as well. How anyone expects anything other than that when he's the age he is and after the amount of time he's played for us is beyond me.

If we want to change how we play though I'd be tempted to put Keane in for him. He's a really good passer of the ball, he's happy progressing it and he scores the occasional goal. He has all the same issues Tarks has with being caught out of exposed and has the mental lapses that cost us, but Tarks has hardly been great in that regard either this season.

In games where we actually have some of the ball as per Forest Keane is miles better at using it.

[Cods]

He's been an important player for us the last 2.5 seasons. He's made a big impact to the solidity of the team in more ways than one; granted the odd mistake and positionally when he's been caught out at times, but it's been pretty rare, especially relative to others.

Of the 116 red cards given out in the league over this period, in the 9000+ minutes of football that he's played for us,..

Or more telling, of the 378 red cards given out, in nearly 25,000 minutes and 8.5 seasons of top flight football he's played in in total...

... None have been awarded to the apparent hard man of football.

Not sure we can go too heavy on something he's never actually been found guilty of.

[brap2]

If we want to change how we play though I'd be tempted to put Keane in for him. He's a really good passer of the ball, he's happy progressing it and he scores the occasional goal. He has all the same issues Tarks has with being caught out of exposed and has the mental lapses that cost us, but Tarks has hardly been great in that regard either this season.

In games where we actually have some of the ball as per Forest Keane is miles better at using it.

No he's absolutely rubbish and chains any side he plays in to his six yard box.

He needed moving on years ago. Playing him is a backwards step in any system.

[AjaxAndy]

No he's absolutely rubbish and chains any side he plays in to his six yard box.

He needed moving on years ago. Playing him is a backwards step in any system.

He's been better than Tarks when he's played this year. Sometimes you've got to just drop someone even if it's just for a short while if they aren't performing.

I don't think anyone wants Keane starting, it's just that Tarks isn't cutting it this year and looks completely at sea whenever we aren't playing super low block.

Keane also isn't good when we play a higher line, he gets caught out too, but his passing is far superior which is needed if we're to have the ball and do anything other than hump it long unfortunately.