Everton end of season loan verdict: Full-Back
We assess the performance of every Everton player who spent time on loan this season. In part four, we look at the Blues’ full-backs: Brendan Galloway, Antonee Robinson and Harry Charsley.
Out of all positions in the Everton first team, full-back looks to be one of the most suspect. Right now, The Blues have two competent first teamers in Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines. Both however, are ageing and injury prone.
Meanwhile, Cuco Martina and Jonjoe Kenny serve as understudy. Whilst these two acquitted themselves well in their debut Everton seasons, it would be foolish to see them as able and certain successors.
This particular situation makes the performance of Everton’s loanee full-backs all the more interesting. All three played in the Championship this season, and have, at various points, displayed the potential to excel in the Premier League.
Could one of them compete for a starting position with the Everton first team next year? This week, we recap at how they did in 2017-18.
Brendan Galloway
Club: Sunderland
Appearances: 10
Goals: 0
Just two seasons ago, Brendan Galloway racked up 15 appearances for Everton in the Premier League. He didn’t look too bad either. However, things have gone rapidly downhill for the 22-year-old since.
First, he endured a disastrous loan spell with West Brom in 2016-17. This year, he didn’t do much better with Sunderland in the Championship.
Admittedly, Sunderland does not have the best reputation for squad cohesion. The Black Cats signed 15 players in the 2017-18, but as concluded in The Guardian, just one made any sort of positive impact.
There was little consistency in the first team on Wearside this year, and with no squad roles set in stone, it would have been a stressful and challenging environment for any young loanee.
Still, Galloway must take some criticism too. The youngster was originally a centre-back, but transferred to full-back early in his Everton career. Despite this change, Galloway has not changed his game much to suit his new position.
He is a competent defender, but offers little attacking or creative skill. It’s hard to pitch him as a high potential full-back in the modern game.
In the midst of Sunderland’s disastrous season, Galloway played just ten games. He is not ready for the Everton first team. As a result, the Liverpool Echo report that he wants to go on loan again next season. This seems a likely outcome.
Performance on loan: 3/10
Likelihood of exit: 4/10
Likelihood of impact: 4/10
Antonee Robinson
Club: Bolton Wanderers
Appearances: 34
Goals: 0
Antonee Robinson had a breakout season with Bolton Wanderers. The American-English defender was unknown to most Everton fans at the start of the season.
However, his dynamic performances in the Championship in 2017-18 have made him a legitimate competitor for a place in Marco Silva’s first team next year.
Robinson arrived at Wanderers with a decent chance of getting minutes in the recently promoted team. However, he impressed early in the season and managed to hold down a starting position despite facing more experienced players in the squad.
Robinson is incredibly athletic, and is well-suited to the physicality of English football. His natural fitness, and speed has allowed him to contribute in the offensive zone too. He notched an impressive five assists the league this season.
Robinson’s natural toolkit, and a relative dearth of competition at the club, gives him a great chance at finding game-time with Everton next season.
On Merseyside though, it could be his character that proves the most benefit. As reported in the Liverpool Echo, Bolton manager, Phil Parkinson said:
"Antonee is a real character. He doesn’t give in. And that kind of attitude can take you places."
As a result of his strong season in the Championship, Robinson received his first call-up for the United States.
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He has since played twice for the USMNT, and did not look out of his depth against a high-calibre France team in early June.
Consistent international play will only improve his chances of breaking into the Everton first team.
Performance on loan: 8/10
Likelihood of exit: 2/10
Likelihood of impact: 7/10
Harry Charsley
Club: Bolton Wanderers
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
Harry Charsley has had a mixed season. On the one hand, the youngster made his debut for Everton, and played well, against Apollon Limassol in the Europa League. On the other, his loan spell at Bolton Wanderers was a damp squib; and he only managed one game due to injury issues.
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As a result, it’s difficult to assess his performance this season. He is now back at Everton, and approaching full fitness. He should go out on loan again next season, to continue his development.