Can't see the relationship between making a lot of passes and losing possession often. It's the ratio which is key, not the number. The guy tries to play the ball out of the back way too often in my opinion, which is illustrated by his unusually high attempted pass rate for defender. Like I said, it is the pass failure rate which is a key defensive stat for a defender, not the pass completion rate. Failed passes at the back are costly. In the second and final thirds less so, respectively.
Totally agree. See quite a bit of Everton, and I strongly feel that they should do with Baines what we did with Bale and push him upfield... He would be far more effective. Wasted as a full back, as was Bale.
Saw Danny Rose play for the U21s last night, hate to say it but he didnt fill me with confidence at LW defensively or offensively, he looked pretty uncomfortable to say the least and was subbed off about half way into the second half. Saying that he probably provided one of Englands best attacking chances in the first half with a bullet across the 6yard box that Sturridge just missd out on... Hopefully its just first game nerves. Walker on the other hand was the stand out talent in the England team and was near unstoppable surging down the right wing. Similar like a fat Bale.
Funny you should say that, as I think that Coleman's in a similar position to Baines. Both look more comfortable going forward than defending, thought they're not bad defenders, by any means. Although it's a little unorthodox, I think that Everton could benefit from playing them as wingbacks, especially if they keep hold of Rodwell and he can play as a centre-half that's very comfortable on the ball. It would help to solve their lack of real width and a lot of their full-back options are pretty poor. Hibbert is awful, for example.
