“You to me are everything the sweetest left Back in the League, Oh Bainesy, Oh Bainesy”, is one of the many songs the Goodison faithful have sung in recent years for Everton’s 1st choice left back. But with the penalty debate being reawakened after weekend’s win against Burnley, when Ross Barkley took responsibility from the penalty spot instead of regular spot kick taker, eyebrows were raised like they were in mid-January when Belgian winger Kevin Mirallas took responsibility. Both were missed- these two misses sparked Evertonians to question when Baines, himself, didn’t take it. What does this mean to Leighton? And is he still the “sweetest Left Back” not just in the league but for Everton Football Club anymore.
Since joining the Blues in 2007 Baines has established himself as an important player for Everton. He is well known for his partnership with Steven Pienaar which worked so well for the Blues for so many years, and is also known around England for his free kick taking abilities that conjured up many memorable strikes such as his brace against West Ham last season, his last gasp equalizer against Chelsea in the FA Cup and one of my personal favorites- his stunner against Newcastle. As well as having a keen eye for goal when taking free kicks, the left back boastd an all but perfect penalty record only missing one penalty against Sunday’s opponents Manchester United. Reading the stats on Baines’ set piece taking abilities it confuses you than on more than one recent occasion that Leighton has been overlooked.
It also brings up the topic of Leighton himself piping up and making his opinions known, but it seems to look like he is too shy to speak up for himself which has been a problem for him since he was young as he struggled to muster the confidence to play Sunday league football. With this problem of him being shy it means that players can take advantage of this situation and that shouldn’t be the case. But if you want my honest opinion for me the first choice kick taker should always take the penalty no matter what and Leighton’s record speaks for itself. I can understand why Lukaku has taken up the chance in recent games as he has hit a good run of form but I am still firmly in the camp that Leighton should be taking penalties for us and for years to come.
This leads us onto the subject of Leighton’s future. I can see next season being his make or break season as this campaign has been completely different to what he was like last season. Last season you saw more buccaneering runs which lead to many goals, while this season it seems that he has lost some of his pace and is now too wary of advancing forward as he might not have the legs to make it back, and with the season we have had when we have been begging for something to happen and Leighton is holding back is frustrating to say the least. As I was saying, if next season is similar to this one, I can see him falling down the pecking order for Everton and England. I still do believe he has it in him to still be are first choice Left Back but only time will tell.
When he has been missing from the first team it was left to Costa Rican Bryan Oviedo and current young starlet Luke Garbutt to fight it out for that spot, with Ovideo spending large parts of this season on the sidelines for injuries Garbutt has stepped up and has been a very impressive deputy. Given his promising performances in the Royal Blue Jersey, it is key that Garbutt signs a new contact with the club as his contact is up at the end of this season. In my honest opinion I can only see Garbutt challenging Baines for that number one left Back place- as much as I love Oviedo he just doesn’t seem that he can up his level that one bit more which Garbutt can do. But even with the recent performances of Garbutt I still believe that Leighton is our number one left back.
