16 Dec 2025 14:26:34
Mykolenko "obsession" continued.
Left-back comparative detail for 2024-2025 (last full season) . Left out the likes of Cucurella, Gvardiol, Robertson, Califori etc as they play for the clubs competing at the top of the table.
A fair comparison would be a few left-backs that have had as many seasons in the PL as Myko and at similar clubs.
(A) Mykolenko, (B) Mitchell, (C) Ait-Nouri (pre-city) and (D) Robinson.
Games: (A) 35, (B) 37, (C) 37, (D) 36
Goals: (A) 1, (B) 0, (C) 4, (D) 0
Assists: (A) 2, (B) 5, (C) 7, (D) 10
Chances Created: (A) 24, (B) 40, (C) 46, (D) 40
Touches: (A) 1744, (B) 1838, (C) 2315, (D) 2647
Touches In Oppo Box: (A) 33, (B) 44, (C) 104, (D) 73
Shots: (A) 8, (B) 9, (C) 21, (D) 11
Shot Accuracy %: (A) 12.5, (B) 33.33, (C) 61.9, (D) 18.18
Passes: (A) 972, (B) 1025, (C) 1377, (D) 1628
Passing Accuracy %: (A) 78.6, (B) 73.56, (C) 86.71, (D) 80.96
Passes Completed In Opp Half: A) 447, (B) 411, (C) 681, (D) 727
Take-Ons Completed: (A) 8, (B) 16, (C) 63, (D) 38
Now you may say that the other lads, certainly the latter two, are more attacking-minded and Myko is primarily a defensive LB.
Duels Contested: (A) 258, (B) 263, (C) 408, (D) 364
Tackles Made: (A) 63, (B) 91, (C) 89, (D) 95
Times Tackled: (A) 20, (B) 47, (C) 103, (D) 54
Fouls: (A) 22, (B) 23, (C) 30, (D) 31
Fouls Won: (A) 34, (B) 25, (C) 46, (D) 20
Aerial Duels Won: (A) 49, (B) 20, (C) 22, (D) 52
Ground Duels Won: (A) 103, (B) 132, (C) 198, (D) 151
Total Duels Won: (A) 152, (B) 152, (C) 220, (D) 203
Clearances: (A) 135, (B) 95, (C) 66, (D) 123
Interceptions: (A) 44, (B) 19, (C) 26, (D) 62
Blocked Shots: (A) 10, (B) 12, (C) 6, (D) 9
Ball Recoveries: (A) 88, (B) 168, (C) 145, (D) 157
Fair play to him, he comes out on top at being tackled the least amount of times. I imagine that is due to the fact that he never wants the ball - least amount of touches overall/oppositions box, total passes and take-ons.
He doesn't even come out on top in what is supposedly the strongest aspect of his game - defending. Least amount of duels contested and won, least tackles, least recoveries. All he has in his favour are clearances, a part of the game that will become less and less, the more we improve.
The lad is so limited and it is about time this is recognised. Nothing against the lad on a personal level. He seems honest and hard working but that doesn't make you good enough to play for Everton Football Club, at least not for me.
He is out of contract in the summer and I for one hope that we don't just lazily renew it. Full-backs are now some of the most important positions in modern day football and we need two of them, that is for certain.
16 Dec 2025 14:47:29
That’s a hell of an in depth analysis mate, good on you, some post.
16 Dec 2025 16:00:24
Wow! All that work to prove a point to someone. Wish I had the time or could be bothered.
16 Dec 2025 17:09:33
A lot of work, to prove what! to who! Moyes?
16 Dec 2025 17:49:11
If the point is there are better left backs out there, then I think we all agree.
16 Dec 2025 18:42:18
I don’t need any stats to tell me what my eyes can see. Mykolenko is a left back and not a very good one. There’s much room for improvement in that position for us and I have no doubt we will try to improve that area and the other areas were we can easily improve ie right back and striker.
Unfortunately I thought we would improve left back with Aznou but he doesn’t look ready for the EPL. So Mykolenko is our best option there at present. But he needs replacing sooner rather than later.
Just like Keane has done well this season but as soon as Branthwaite is fit, he’ll be straight back in because he is a massive improvement in Keane.
{Ed025's Note - dont get me wrong Joe, i dont think Myko is great but i think we need other positions strengthening more than left back mate, i feel that a forward, centre mid and right back should be our priority first..especially a forward, thats just my take though..
16 Dec 2025 20:12:06
Agree with you Ed025. I thought the we played as well as Chelsea but it is obvious that we have no cutting edge especially without KDH. If you don't score you don't win.
{Ed025's Note - now that KDH may be out and Ndaiye is away our quest for goals will become a great deal harder Mike, and if jack is struggling then i really fear that these games coming up will be a real struggle mate..
17 Dec 2025 00:17:50
I tell you what I will say on this, we signed Myko and Patterson in the same week and for proper money. That shows you the insanity of the previous regime.
17 Dec 2025 03:28:04
ed025, I agree those positions (RB, ST) probably need addressing more than LB at present. But LB still needs addressing and I'm disappointed that we tried to address it by signing Aznou only to be told he's not EPL ready. I think we will see a big improvement in our attacking play if we sign a decent right and left back.
Unfortunately that doesn't guarantee that our 2 strikers will score. And I also agree with you about us struggling for goals without KDH and Ndiaye missing. Can anyone step up and score a few, is the question? And only time will tell.
{Ed025's Note - we all want better players for quite a few positions Joe but the FFP has stymied us mate even if we have the money, thats why i cant understand the policy of buying for the future at this stage when we need players for now, maybe if we see a dip in form over the the next month or so these buyers might realize that shopping at nursery schools is not the best idea..
18 Dec 2025 00:44:34
So true ed025, but for me our weakest points are the strikers and full backs. Our best right back so far this season was Garner against Fulham and even he was given a run around a few times by Kevin, defensively. But he was much better when attacking with Ndiaye. Grealish will be more effective if he had a pacy full back playing alongside him, IMO.
Most full backs nowadays are fast and athletic but not great defensively (Digne and Baines) but O'Brien and Mykolenko are neither fast or athletic. But that's just my opinion and I've proven to myself that I know nothing as every time I say a player for us is terrible they play like Roy of the Rovers their next game haha.
{Ed025's Note - we will just have to see what Santa brings us Joe, mind you i dont know how hes going to get down the chimney with all them players and weather presenters i have asked for mate.. :)