JAMES GARNER: PLAYER ANALYSIS
- Mo Fathalli
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Name: James Garner
Age: 24
Nationality: England
Club: Everton
Height: 1.82m\ 6'0"
Weight: 77Kg
Market Value: €25.00m
Contract expires: 30/06/2027
Manchester United academy product James Garner has cemented himself as a pillar in David Moyes’ Everton starting XI, featuring in every Premier League game for the Toffees so far this season. With two goals, three assists, and, most importantly, consistent performances week in, week out, Garner has earned increased recognition and attention, particularly with just one year remaining on his contract.
Below is an in-depth look at the 24-year-old both out and in possession, assessing why he could represent a strong market opportunity for Premier League clubs.
Out of Possession
Garner is a very active midfielder without the ball, which is reflected in his defensive output. The chart below highlights how highly he ranks for recoveries, blocks, and, most importantly, tackles attempted across all thirds of the pitch.
● Positional Defending: Garner is generally disciplined when defending in a low or mid-block, often looking to protect space and cut passing lanes. There is room for improvement in the timing and frequency of his scans to better gather information about what’s happening behind him. However, his overall awareness is solid, as he is often alert to players arriving on his blind side and is capable of spotting runners in behind and checking their runs.
Garner also consistently performs the core duties of a defensive midfielder, protecting the space in front of the centre-backs and showing good anticipation when dealing with crosses, which is again down to his good awareness.
● Aggressiveness: Discipline should not be mistaken for passiveness. As the numbers above indicate, Garner is a very active midfielder who is constantly willing to jump from his position to apply pressure on opponents. He has very good acceleration and is capable of covering ground quickly over the first few metres. Despite being just 6ft tall, he has long limbs, which he uses effectively when tackling to reach around players and win the ball.
However, Garner still needs to learn how to better control this aggressiveness. Building on the earlier point around scanning, he can jump from his position to press without checking his back, which can leave the opposition with a free player between the lines. He can also overcommit after stepping out, either by continuing his pressing run or by failing to close the passing lane he initially opens up.
● Dueling: Garner has good stamina, intensity, and work rate, and is quick at covering ground. These are all physical traits that are essential in the Premier League. However, raw physical strength is not his biggest asset. While he willingly engages in duels and wins a fair share of them, his lanky frame can make it difficult for him to impose himself against equal or stronger opponents, as he often struggles to unbalance them without committing a foul.
● 1v1 Defending: Garner’s intentions in one-against-one situations are very good, as he consistently looks to force play wide while lowering his centre of gravity to stay reactive. He also times his tackles well, ranking in the 97th percentile for tackles won, often using his long legs to nudge the ball away or steal possession cleanly.
However, there is still work to be done on his stance, particularly when defending 1v1 in wide areas. He often finds himself flat-footed when facing an opponent, which limits his ability to change direction smoothly and allows attackers to dribble either side of him or cut back inside. Tying back to his aggressiveness, Garner can also struggle to slow down as he approaches a player, leaving him vulnerable to quick changes of direction or sharp directional touches.
● Aerials: Garner has very good jumping power, largely due to his preparation before engaging in aerial duels. He often takes a few adjustment steps before jumping, using both, or his stronger, foot to initiate the leap, while maintaining good technique and effective use of his arms.
However, similar to his dueling, his lanky build can sometimes work against him. Opponents are able to pin him before the jump or win headers ahead of him through sheer physical strength.
In Possession:
● Movement to receive: For a midfielder, the ability to be central in build-up play is essential. To do so, movement to consistently offer passing options to teammates is crucial. While Everton are not a side that looks to methodically build out from the back, Garner often finds himself receiving the ball after regains or when contesting and collecting second balls following longer passes.
Still, there are moments that highlight Garner’s willingness to come short and receive to feet. He often moves from higher positions into deeper areas, using his acceleration to beat opponents to the ball. He also likes to pop up from behind players, frequently operating on their blind side before presenting himself as a passing option.
When receiving with pressure on his back, Garner most often opts for the safest option, playing back to a centre-back or switching the ball quickly to the full-back. However, when he receives with space to turn, he becomes far more capable of progressing play, either through quick carries or with longer passes.
● Long passing and switches: Garner has a good passing range and sound technique, often applying the right weight to his longer passes, particularly when switching play. However, his timing can be rushed, as he looks to release runners as early as possible. This not only impacts the quality of the pass but can also prevent teammates from getting on the end of it, as defenders are given a head start to recover.
● Retention and Dribbling: Playing long balls or opting for quick, safe passes under pressure does not mean Garner is unable to retain possession. Despite not being physically dominant, as noted earlier, he uses his body and arms well to shield the ball when under pressure. He consistently looks to step across the opponent, placing his body between the ball and the defender, with an arm extended to act as a barrier. As a result, he is often able to either escape with the ball or draw a foul.
When it comes to dribbling, Garner does not attempt anything elaborate. Instead, he relies on quick changes of direction and sharp shifts. His clean ball manipulation allows him to maintain close control while doing so, making him effective at retaining possession higher up the pitch. From these moments, his creativity is able to come through.
● Through Passes: Garner is capable of finding runners in behind with threaded passes along the ground. His technique, weight of pass, and vision allow him to place teammates into dangerous positions inside the box. However, he tends to rely heavily on his right foot in these situations, which can make his actions predictable, as he often uses the inside of his foot to punch passes through. Adding more disguise to his execution would help reduce this predictability.
● Crossing: Another way Garner contributes in the final third is through his crossing, both from open play and set pieces. He regularly targets dangerous areas in the box, often adding curl to his deliveries, which makes them more difficult for defenders and goalkeepers to deal with. Similar to his through balls, however, he can struggle to deliver crosses with the same accuracy on his left foot, as he rarely uses it when required.
What does the future hold?
With a reported market value of around £25m, Garner already looks like a bargain when all factors are considered. He is an all-action midfielder entering his prime years, with substantial Premier League experience and a proven ability to deliver consistent performances. While certain limitations remain, such as a lack of imposing physicality, over-aggression when jumping out of position and so on, these are areas that can be addressed through targeted physical development and coaching.
Garner’s overall profile and fundamentals are strong enough for him to start regularly for a side competing for European places, or to operate as a high-quality rotation option within a top-four squad. In that context, a return to Manchester United could make sense. The former Red Devil has unfinished business at his boyhood club, having featured just seven times for the senior side before completing a permanent move to Goodison Park (before Hill Dickinson Stadium) in 2022.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s midfield remains an area in need of reinforcement. With Casemiro officially departing the club at the end of the season, Bruno Fernandes’ uncertain future, and Manuel Ugarte yet to convince since his arrival, Kobbie Mainoo is currently the only midfielder the club can confidently plan around long term. Targeting Garner as a relatively low-cost, or potentially free option (in case of renewal negotiations with Everton do not go through) could therefore be a smart move, adding both squad depth and a possible midfield partner for Mainoo, should his identified limitations be refined.
Comments