David Moyes has a serious problem at Everton because the team simply cannot stop conceding at the back post. According to a fresh report from The Athletic, the Toffees are now one of the three worst teams in the Premier League when it comes to dealing with crosses aimed at the far side of the goal.
Only Wolves and West Ham have a worse record than the six goals Everton have let in from these situations this season, which proves there is a massive hole in their wide defence. This lack of awareness was obvious during the recent 2-0 loss to Arsenal, where the Gunners repeatedly targeted that exact spot to kill off the game.
Everton Back-Post Defending Report
The root of the issue seems to be the way Moyes is picking his defenders this season. Instead of using natural full-backs, he keeps choosing centre-backs like Jake O’Brien or midfielders like James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam to play out wide.
While O’Brien is great in the air, his habit of tucking inside leaves the far post completely open for any winger making a late run. These converted defenders often lose track of players behind them because they don’t have the natural instincts of a specialist full-back. If Everton want to stay in eighth place and actually qualify for Europe, Moyes has to fix these defensive lapses before the season slips away.
Can Everton Secure European Football With A Makeshift Backline?
Everton are sitting in a decent spot in the table right now, but playing players out of position is a massive gamble that could ruin their chances of playing in Europe. By sticking Jake O’Brien at right-back, Moyes is clearly choosing height and strength over the quick feet and recovery speed you need to survive on the flanks in this league. This creates a strange situation where the team looks solid against central headers but gets torn apart by any ball that flies over the last man’s shoulder.
I think this whole mess comes down to a lack of faith in the actual full-backs at the club, and that points to some poor recruitment over the last few years. When you have a midfielder like Garner dropping into the backline, he naturally watches the ball instead of checking the danger sneaking in behind him.
This causes the entire defence to squeeze too tight, giving top-tier wingers all the room they need to score easy goals at the back stick. Unless the club go out and buy a proper, high-quality full-back this summer, they will keep hitting a wall. To win games in March and April, you need players who know their roles inside out, so Moyes has to decide if his love for versatile players is worth losing a European spot.
