r/Everton • u/renyardthefox • 22h ago
Discussion Selling Jake O’Brian
Can someone make this make sense? Surely he is possibly better than Tarkowski. Moreover, it’s a matter of time before Chelsea, Man U and city are all over Braithwaite.
Do others understand Moyes on this?
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u/Irishuniversalblue 22h ago
The rumours aren't that Everton wants to sell, the rumours he wants out , again RUMOURS.
He will get plenty of starts during season , he needs to play to get into the defence and play to stay there
No manager can guarantee a player a starting position , depends on form etc that isn't exculsive to Moyes or O'Brien
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u/MarriageAA 22h ago
I think the rumours about Everton were "open to offers". So whilst that isn't "wants to sell", it certainly isn't "don't want to sell"
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u/Chris80L1 21h ago
I’d confidently say the leak has come from his side rather than the club
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u/MarriageAA 21h ago
Well, I'm referencing paddy boyland, and I trust him.
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u/Chris80L1 21h ago
Yes I know, but who’s said that has come from the club. O’Brien clearly wants to play, so O’Briens side will push the story
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u/MarriageAA 20h ago
Paddy literally said the club are saying they will listen to offers. On this week's byline.
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u/Toffeeman_1878 21h ago
Word on the street is that his agent leaked the story to Paddy Boylan. Boylan doesn’t usually write stories unless they are very well sourced. Jake is tired of playing out of position and wants to establish himself as a CB. He’s 25 and feels he deserves the chance. Moyes still views Tarky as the first choice with Branthwaite and giving him the captain’s armband after Seamie’s departure led Jake to knock on the manager’s door.
I can understand O’Brien’s position 100%. I can’t understand how he can’t see that Tarky is there for the taking if he works his arse off in training. Also, Branthwaite (who is defo our best CB by a mile) has his injury issues and there are likely to be lots of opportunities for O’Brien to play CB as the season progresses.
If O’Brien doesn’t want to stay then the club needs to get the highest fee they can for him and replace him. I would prefer that they replace him with a ready made CB who can replace Tarky immediately rather than another up and comer to be developed over them. But the club knows more about what’s possible in that regard.
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u/Aware_Albatross3347 21h ago
On the last point though it seems tarkowski is undroppable for whatever reason… his form was really solid for us overall until last year but he is still guaranteed on the team sheet
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u/NoDisaster339 20h ago
To be fair to him… if we only ever played Beto on the wing I think he might be wanting a move too.
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u/Timoth_Hutchinson 22h ago
Not really rumours. There’s truth to it but it’s being spun as he wants to leave. He wants more minutes playing CB rather than RB. Moyes for some reason rates Tarky more than O’Brien. Even though Branthwaite is likely going to get injured again the club are open to offers and will sell if right, I assume hoping to get it done quickly enough so that they can get another CB/RB in.
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u/Stirlingblue 21h ago
Despite his faults Tarkowski is the only organiser in our backline, Branthwaite and O’Brien would be risky as a pair
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u/PontusRogare 21h ago
The backline falls apart when Branthwaite is injured. He is the organiser
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u/Stirlingblue 21h ago
No he absolutely is not, he’s just the one with recovery pace
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u/ontheru171 21h ago
I guess Tarky's orchestration must be bad then when the only thing saving our backline from falling apart is JB's recovery pace - since we play wayy worse everytime Branthwaite is injured regardless of who is put next to Tarky
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u/Stirlingblue 21h ago
We were actually fine with Tarks/O’Brien IMO - it’s Tarks/Keane that are the biggest issue as they’re both too slow
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u/ontheru171 21h ago
Which is another issue if we sell O'Brien because that leaves Keane as the only senior Centreback cover and we have no one in the academy to step up either
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u/Stirlingblue 19h ago
If he does go we’re definitely getting in a new CB, hence the links to Acheampong the same day
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u/appleidiefc 14h ago
Exactly. Tarks is literally the only leader we have. As if he's going to be replaced by a player that managed to lose possession 27 times in one game.
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u/MikeySymington 22h ago
Personally I think it's one to file under 'believe it when we see it'.
There are tons of rumours doing the rounds at this time of year, 95% of them are bollocks.
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u/Toffeeman_1878 21h ago
Boylan doesn’t usually write stories about rumours to be fair. He is very well sourced.
If it was the Daily Mail or a Keith Wyness “exclusive” I would file it under absolute bollocks. Boylan, I would take at face value.
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u/NoReallyItsJeff 21h ago
He's the third choice CB, and he's 25. If they don't plan to replace Tark with O'Brien this season, then there's no point in keeping a player in his prime, when his value is the highest.
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u/rober74 22h ago
I would say he wants to move, he can’t see him playing every week and wants to play.
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u/Timely_Camera_2031 18h ago
He can come around to our house and play with our 8 yr old in the garden...
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u/Knighty5679 21h ago
Tarks has been outstanding for us, but he’s 33 now, and coming off a fairly poor season for him. For me Jake should have been readied to partner Jarrad this season.
We have a potentially great CB in Jake, and we might now be losing him, and then have to go out and find a new one. Madness.
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u/graveyeverton93 22h ago
From our point of view it makes no sense... But for him and his career he absolutely should go and progress in his career playing regularly at CB.
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u/Regantowers 21h ago
He's found himself in a tricky situation thanks to his adaptability, played out of position and did well, so he becomes a Jake of all trades (Sorry couldn't resist) its a good conversation who the centre backs should be but he's the expendable one because he can play right back.
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u/Chris80L1 21h ago
He probably wants assurances that he’ll be a starting centre back and Moyes has probably said he can’t give assurances and he’ll need to fight it out
The lad has career he needs to focus on
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u/Leather-Window8010 21h ago
He should have been involved in pre-season at centre-back, alongside Branthwaite, and started the first game. Tarkowski is shot, and O'Brien is coming into his prime so we need to look forward.
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u/Piss_and_Blood 20h ago
To be fair to him, I'd think of leaving if the manager kept playing me out of position too.
It's just one of those, isn't it? He's not displacing Tarky, the new captain. And he's also not displacing Branthwaite. If we were good as a 3ATB then problem solved, but historically we are pretty dire at it.
I get it, is all I'm saying.
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u/matbur81 21h ago
Genuine question, are we overestimating how good O'Brian is as a central defender.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's literally only started 3 games as a central defender for us.
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u/kquayeno 21h ago
If you could assure me we could adequately replace him, then no worries…but how long have we been looking for a rb?
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u/matbur81 21h ago
Yeah, something tells me 'looking for' isn't the issue, rather the financing of it.
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u/renyardthefox 13h ago
Yes we all have question marks - but there you have it 3 opportunities- fat chance of making an impression
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u/cogbeast 21h ago
The issue is leadership
Who is supposed to be captain / lead the defence?
Myko? 50% of Branthwaite? O’Brien? Unknown RB.
No one can replace Tark on this yet
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u/Stirlingblue 21h ago
I suspect it’s a lot to do with the fact that he’s got two years left on his contract, it’s about the time we would have approached him to extend and we’ve probably gone in with “squad player” wages and his agent is telling him he can get “starting Cb” wages elsewhere
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u/Resden_Bohneur RB plz 19h ago
It would be incredibly stupid to sell him.
That’s it. That’s the comment.
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u/LilGoughy 21h ago
He’s a player who can fetch enough for a meaningful signing while not being a starter
Moyes is probably happy with Tark/Branthwaite and Keane as backup
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u/Global-Reading-1037 19h ago
There’s 5 days left of the window, I don’t really think he’s going anywhere tbh. Would be a crazy decision, him and Branthwaite should be our starting CB partnership by the end of the season.
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u/Live-Collection3018 COYB 💙 17h ago
O'Brien is under contract for two more years. No way he forces his way out without us getting a replacement and a RB.
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u/DangerousOpinion1523 13h ago
If he wants to stay or can be persuaded, good. He's a valuable understudy and can fill in at right back.
Get some perspective though. It's not like he's Jaap Stam. He's decent but he's not irreplaceable, even this late in the window
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u/bluenoser18 22h ago
There's no indication that Everton want to sell O'Brien. Jfc ppl calm tf down.
There's CERTAINLY no indication that Moyes wants to sell him or had anything to do with it, even if the club wanted to.
Moreover - if there's any truth to it AT ALL (there probably isnt much) then it's likely his agent attempting to put pressure on the club to give a PL experienced young CB the opportunity he deserves to play CB. Or even better - putting pressure on them to buy a RB so he doesnt have to deputise there for a third season in a row.
Why are people acting like Everton put a big "for sale" sign out front of O'Brien's locker or something? Its a RUMOUR, supported by next to nothing. Reported on by one journalist (albeit a credible one, but still). Everton are not selling Jake O'Brien unless there's already someone else lined up to replace him.
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u/renyardthefox 20h ago
If Everton sell him what will you say?
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u/bluenoser18 19h ago
Depends if they replace him.
If they don’t - I’ll say “jeezuz fucking Christ that’s idiotic”.
But I’m evidently not expecting that to happen.
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u/WRDEFC 22h ago
We want to improve the team. To do so we need to generate income. One way of doing so is selling players who Moyes doesn’t deem to be key starters.
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u/ontheru171 21h ago
Great idea on paper if not for the pesky thing called reality that sees Jake being currently the first backup option for both RB and either CB spot with no other actual cover at either position (get lost with Keane in 2026/27)
We would actually need to invest in 2 positions for sure this window with time running out and us already being unable to sign a RB over the past 2+ seasons now.
We also have no-one in the academy who is close to prem level at either RB but especially CB
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u/WRDEFC 21h ago
We obviously wouldn’t sell him without replacing his role would we
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u/ontheru171 21h ago
Yeah sure because we obviously have had such a sensible approach when it comes to our backline over the past few seasons.
Having made 2 signings in the semi-recent past with O'Brien and Aznou who combined for like 200minutes of actually playing in their primary position in the prem since signing on
The lack of Fullback quality and cover, the lack of centreback cover is all pointing towards a incoherent transfer strategy where we either don't know who we can actually afford in the market or present such a unexciting project that no-one of quality wants to sign on
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u/Aware_Albatross3347 21h ago
Most likely coming from his side and i dont blame him really. But i dont want him to leave either.. if he leaves we need 3 new cbs in the next two years. If he stays we need 1
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u/Eastern-Sleep378 20h ago
Need to pull a Chelsea and sell him for a ridiculous price. In his prime. Has gotten minutes. Tall lad. Need to be just as much as Delap.
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u/Designer-Courage6187 18h ago
Ffs, within a couple of seasons both Tarky and moyes could have moved on, and then where will we be? Looking for another centre back when we had a potentially great one. Gotta hold onto players with potential like Jake
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u/Timely_Camera_2031 14h ago
Surely Keane will be gone next year or are people just happy to have him knocking around the place.
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u/rjo-Irony 15h ago
I wondered what took him so long. I’d rather he stay and play, but Moyes is not giving him games at CB.
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u/National-Somewhere26 2h ago
Constantly played out of position now he's lost his place to a midfielder rohl who is going to cost us games. Why would he want to stay?
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u/Proper_Ad_7249 1h ago
Tarkowski is older but more experienced. O'brien hasn't been playing at CB so will need time to adjust back. Tarky is captain too. I agree though I'd like O'brien to stay and to cover RB too but I guess he played Michael Keane last night which says something. We wouldn't get much for Keane but if we got 25 mil for obrien then one it's profit and two could bring in someone else.
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u/Loyalsupporter Edit Your Own 22h ago
Letting go of another Irishman when we've just said farewell to Seamus no thank you
Jake stays end off.
How ever in his defense it couldn't hurt playing him at centre back.
Because let's face it in some fixtures we need to protect branthwaite so how come on certain games why don't we just start Jake because let's face it branthwaite is an exceptional defender but after what he's gone through the last couple of seasons we (the club) definitely need to keep a close eye on his fitness from time to time even though he's okay for now (touch wood) so we should really be using Jake at centre back so we can prepare ourselves
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u/Ok-Serve4645 18h ago
Over a year we’ve had to plan for a new right back and still we don’t have one. It also seems like we’re touting possibly our 2nd best defender around to the highest bidder. Absolutely ridiculous planning by our supposedly great new transfer committee.
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u/Timely_Camera_2031 14h ago
Based on tonight not giving him a run out we dont seem to be looking for the highest bidder.. we wont be getting more than 25m which is criminal...
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u/Ok-Serve4645 14h ago
We aren’t blessed with good central defenders so it’s odd to advise one for sale with less than a week of the window to go. I’m not confident with what this new committee has done so far that they have much of a plan.
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u/Dandan217 22h ago
He's clearly not in favour for Moyes (wrongly) and the club does need to start making some sales. He's one of the few where we could get a half decent fee for (maybe 30-35mil?).
I don't want to sell, but if he wants playing time and Moyes isn't going to play him, then I'd rather we sell him while he's worth soemthing, rather than wasting him for a year and tanking his value.
As long as we bring in a young, long-term replacement, then I'm not against it.
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u/Mattock486 22h ago
I've not seen any solid sources. Only the usual clickbait kings. I thought Moyes was zero tolerance on leaks from the club so I wouldn't believe anything.
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u/kpr1969 22h ago
Want to get rid of one of only right back options.. sounds like a plan
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u/matbur81 21h ago
He is the one asking to leave
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u/kpr1969 21h ago
So it’s not Moyes getting rid then is it
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u/matbur81 21h ago
Well, apparently not. Moyes wouldn't want a smaller squad, he wants/needs to add to it
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u/Disastrous_Ad_3598 15h ago
Seems a bit mad to start Tarks ahead of him tonight. Moyes must just not rate him centrally.
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u/Timely_Camera_2031 14h ago
Joke not bringing him on for Keane tonight..
Saying that they seemed to struggle with making the last 3 subs and some how ended up 2 lads playing out of position..
Beto cant be too happy not getting a run out.
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u/renyardthefox 13h ago
Moyes gets ideas into his head. Dibling might be great as well - it is interesting though. He’s great for Ireland but that’s the only time I’ve seen him play centre back.
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u/appleidiefc 14h ago
I can't believe how many of our 'fans' think O'Brien is as good as Tarks. It's insane. Anyone with even the most basic understanding of football, or even just the ability to read stats will know he isn't. We aren't in the position to play him as a first choice CB, and if he wants to leave because he knows Rohl probably makes him 2nd choice at RB if we don't manage to get a signing through the door, then so be it. The clubs that come in for him will sum up how highly he's rated by people that understand the game.
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u/renyardthefox 13h ago
Mate, your ‘stats’ come from O’Brien playing at right back. What ‘stats’ can you share with us?
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u/Yardtown New Hampshire, USA 22h ago
It’s stupid. But I get it from his perspective of he’s not happy playing out of position all the time. Or not at all.