Jarrad Branthwaite is a centre-back — Play him there
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David Moyes risked the wrath of Evertonians on Friday, as, in his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip up to Newcastle United, he spoke about Jarrad Branthwaite and Harrison Armstrong playing out of position.
Branthwaite had played at left-back against Manchester United on Monday, replicating the role he had featured in away at Brighton at the end of January, albeit on that occasion, Vitaliy Mykolenko was unavailable. He had also come on late on against Fulham in that position, but had then played in his natural, preferred centre-back role against Bournemouth.
Armstrong, meanwhile, has featured in every single game since he returned early from his loan spell at Preston North End, but mostly has had to settle for playing out wide on either flank.
When asked to explain those choices, Moyes said: "I think this is probably the first time we've had enough players to rotate and try things. Branthwaite is as comfortable at left-back as he is at centre-back.
"Quite often when you're a young central-midfield player, you often find your way into the first team playing off the sides. I think Mikel Arteta, when he came here, probably had to do the same thing. When you're a young centre-back, you often end up playing at full-back.”
Now, I should stress that Moyes answered the question in chunks. At first, he spoke about Branthwaite’s suitability to playing left-back, and then he spoke about Armstrong, and how young, central players in both defence and midfield often have to find their way in from the flanks. He then went back to stress how he felt Branthwaite was suited to playing left-back.
Understandably, though, this caused ire within Everton’s fanbase, especially coming off the back of successive home defeats.
Branthwaite is still young — he’s only 23. But he is not a young player who should be needing to bide his time to play in his best position. He is Everton’s best defender; he is one of Everton’s best players, full stop. Before Saturday, he had played 80 times in the Premier League, making 72 starts. The vast majority of those had come at centre-back.
Add in that it felt like Moyes had crowbarred Branthwaite out wide to simply ensure Michael Keane features from the off, and it does begin to wind fans up the wrong way.
So, Moyes’ answer could certainly have been less muddled, and did invite some criticism. It also set everyone up to think Everton would rock up at St James’ Park with a defence made up of all four available centre-backs, with Jake O’Brien back in at right-back.
However, thankfully, Moyes brought back Mykolenko — who has plenty of limitations, but is a solid enough defender — and moved Branthwaite back to centre-back.
Branthwaite was not brilliant against Bournemouth. He looked a bit rushed in possession and was caught out a couple of times, but that was surely to be expected on his first start in the position in a Premier League game since last May.
And at St James’, he looked much more assured. Both on the ball and off it.
The standout moment, of course, was his goal — Branthwaite brilliantly directing a near-post header in at the far post after meeting James Garner’s corner. But he didn’t put a foot wrong throughout, even if Newcastle’s first equaliser came via a hugely unfortunate deflection off his right leg as he attempted to close down Jacob Ramsey’s shot.
He won all six of his duels, with four of those being aerial duels. Only James Tarkowski, who always looks better when playing next to Branthwaite or Jake O’Brien than he does Keane, made more clearances (10) than Branthwaite’s eight.
Keane has played well this season, but Branthwaite should not be getting moved around from centre-back to facilitate the 33-year-old playing, unless it absolutely cannot be avoided. His presence in the centre is just too crucial — Everton have had to wait most of the season for it, so Moyes must not get in his own way there. Branthwaite should be treated as the immovable object that the rest of the defence is built around.
He is more than good enough, and even if it is unlikely, if he delivers more performances of the level he demonstrated on Saturday, then he shouldn’t give up on his World Cup hopes just yet, either. Thomas Tuchel’s ignorance of Branthwaite last season was disappointing, to say the least, especially when inferior players such as Jarell Quansah have received regular call-ups. But this term, Branthwaite’s injury issues mean he was always in a race against time to get the nod to head to North America in the summer.
Moyes can help him, though, and help Everton, by playing him in his best position. Because Branthwaite may well be half-suited to filling in at left-back, but the Toffees are much, much better when he is at the heart of the defence.
Reader Comments (37)
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Geoff Cadman 3 Posted 01/03/2026 at 16:38:04
Takes me back to when he signed Baines and then played Lescott at left back for most of the season. I think Tarkowski is our weakest centre back at the moment, his lack of pace is a major concern.
Christy Ring 4 Posted 01/03/2026 at 16:45:47
Completely agree with the heading, he's our No 1 centre-back, we're a lot more solid with his pace and passing ability.
And above all, he's a left-sided centre-back, he's wasted at left-back -- another one of Moyes's ridiculous decisions.
David West 5 Posted 01/03/2026 at 17:40:23
Looked like he enjoyed the game yesterday. Not just his goal, but playing his part in the centre of defence.
Although Mykolenko has his limitations & O'Brien is uncomfortable at right-back, I'd say that's how he picks our back four for the rest of the season if they stay fit.
Jarrad Branthwaite has pace and reading of the game will hopefully help Tarkowski when we're playing a higher line at home, and his passing ability helps us get through the lines, without hoofing it.
I'd start the same 11 on Tuesday.
Paul Clements 6 Posted 01/03/2026 at 19:35:50
Same line up apart from Gana, no harm in resting him after such a quick turnaround of games, even though he played well against Newcastle.
Surely playing Burnley, we could give Armstrong or Rohl some minutes?
Tony Abrahams 7 Posted 01/03/2026 at 21:24:30
I personally don’t expect many changes with there being another ten days rest before we play again Paul.
Brendan McLaughlin 9 Posted 01/03/2026 at 21:37:03
Doh Brendan #8
Obviously 10 days rest after Burnley!
Tony Abrahams 10 Posted 01/03/2026 at 22:00:27
Slow down Brendan, it’s only one game at a time remember!
Mark Wynne 11 Posted 02/03/2026 at 05:53:34
Geoff #3,
I stopped myself from quoting that fact about Baines because I'd convinced myself it was a false memory or something. Pretty sure he only played Baines in the end because he was forced to because of injury/discipline.
It's what I think regarding Patterson, Aznou etc also. He's hardly an innovator our Davey. Likes his tried and tested Premier League experience, even if if the replacement comes on and does pretty well.
Andy Walker 12 Posted 02/03/2026 at 06:10:17
Mark, Moyes has been playing youngsters Armstrong and George.
Patterson is atrocious defensively and Aznou for the little we've seen of him, is similarly defensively poor.
Alan J Thompson 13 Posted 02/03/2026 at 06:33:32
Using Moyes logic he might as well give Branthwaite a run out as striker as he looked comfortable scoring on Saturday.
Would it be too much to ask that players are used in their best position when they are the best we have, for example, Travers on the bench.
Ian Jones 14 Posted 02/03/2026 at 07:24:18
John Stones had a stint at right-back but that might have been under Roberto.
I think it's useful sometimes for players to play out of position as that gives them an appreciation of different positions as well and might just help them in their preferred position.
Tony Abrahams 15 Posted 02/03/2026 at 07:26:57
A little bit of a contradiction Brendan, but after tomorrow we have got Arsenal away, Chelsea on the 21 March, and then a 3-week break until we play again at Brentford.
It's very rare for a team to play well after such a long break, although I remember it working well for Marco Silva when his team had a really long break a few seasons ago.
Alan J Thompson 16 Posted 02/03/2026 at 07:35:21
Ian(#14);
Maybe so as Ray Wilson started out as a winger while Tommy Wright and Hibbert were both midfielders and John Hurst a Blackpool Schoolboys centre-forward.
But it doesn't seem to be helping Harrison Armstrong, Patterson or Aznou and may perhaps be best used on the training ground.
I remember Alan Ball saying he always used to look forward to the training games against the youth team which I think were a regular part of training under Harry Catterick who didn't need dragging off screaming and kicking to watch the kids playing away at Tranmere's Prenton Park.
Tony Abrahams 18 Posted 02/03/2026 at 08:54:03
All the good things Blue Bill, did for Everton, by Brendan Mc. How bizarre!
Tony Abrahams 19 Posted 02/03/2026 at 09:05:19
I can still remember Martinez replacing Deulofeu with Kone to play on the right in front of Stones against Man City in the League Cup semi-final at City, whilst leaving Aaron Lennon on the bench.
Incredibly niave management. City might have scored a goal after the ball had gone out of play but, as bad as Martin fucking Atkinson always was, I felt like choking Roberto after that game.
Paul Griffiths 21 Posted 02/03/2026 at 09:36:59
Andy Walker 12 - I see you're back. This must be up there with most shite post of 2026 so far.
'and Aznou for the little we've seen of him, is similarly defensively poor'.
What in your Moyes lovey world makes these pathetic 13 words in any shape or form reasonable?
Here's the clue Mr. Walker. Defensive duties were not on your beloved Lourdes Moyes’s mind when he sent him on for a small cameo. Anzou brought a fresh air on with him in, note this Mr Walker, attack.
Please respond Mr Walker, you won't, and maybe back up your erm view that 'Aznou for the little we've seen of him, is similarly defensively poor'.
Tony Abrahams 24 Posted 02/03/2026 at 11:01:52
A line a week if you use big letters when you're writing, maybe, Brendan.
Bradley Lowery, the tribute to the Hillsborough victims, and trying to save Bury, when it was already too late. The end.
John Collins 25 Posted 02/03/2026 at 11:36:18
John 20.
Reading your posts, you're better off not applying.
Dave Abrahams 26 Posted 02/03/2026 at 11:50:29
Tony (24),
You missed out the night he made his mother cry when he sold Wayne Rooney to Man Utd.
I don't know what the hard-nosed Alex Ferguson thought of that load of nonsense.
Eric Myles 28 Posted 02/03/2026 at 12:29:15
Geoff #3 and Mark #11, that Baines story is a myth propagated on ToffeeWeb.
Baines didn't get regular starts at left-back because he was injured and Lescott was playing well there despite hating it.
The reason Lescott couldn't play in his preferred position was 'cos of the Jagielka - Yobo pairing that was also playing well (Don't change a winning team?).
Dave Lynch 30 Posted 02/03/2026 at 13:29:05
Moyes saw no future in Chermiti -- thank god, the lad can't play to save his life... sarcasm, BTW.
If anybody thinks Moyes can be trusted with a huge transfer kitty in the summer, then you must be mad.
I guarantee we'll be chock full of late 20s early 30s utility players and be celebrating another mid-table finish and early cup exits.
John Collins 34 Posted 02/03/2026 at 15:59:35
Eric,
I'm keen to see the details of "the myth".
Can you answer my question @29 please.
James Flynn 35 Posted 02/03/2026 at 23:03:13
Eric (28) - Yes, Lescott played out of his skin that season. Talk about mining the Championship for gems. Lescott was one of Moyes's best.
Only lasted one more season, then the Abu Dabi folks bought City and started throwing big money at everyone they thought was good.
Baines had some injury when he first came. His ankle? He made appearances that season but was never pushing Lescott out of that left corner. Not that year.