Everton Reaps Rewards from Two Shrewd Signings: Pickford and Garner
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- Everton mengubah £34 juta menjadi pilar utama: Pickford yang jadi kiper nomor satu Inggris dan Garner yang nilainya melesat 325%.
- Kedua pemain menunjukkan bahwa pembelian bertarget dengan harga wajar bisa mengangkat performa klub lebih efektif daripada belanja besar tanpa arah.
- Jika konsisten, Garner berpotensi menyusul Pickford sebagai ikon jangka panjang dan membuka jalan Everton kembali ke kompetisi Eropa.
Everton has proven that not all big signings end in vain. Amidst significant spending that often yields no results, two of their recruits—Jordan Pickford and James Garner—stand as prime examples of how shrewd investments can change a club's direction. Pickford, brought in for £25 million from Sunderland in 2017, is now England's primary goalkeeper with 91 caps. Meanwhile, Garner, purchased for just £9 million from Manchester United in 2022, has transformed into a central midfielder whose Transfermarkt value has soared to £38 million—a 325% increase.
Everton's decision to sign Pickford was initially met with skepticism, as he had just been relegated with Sunderland. However, nine years later, the 32-year-old goalkeeper has made 365 appearances for The Toffees and established himself as one of Europe's best shot-stoppers. This season, he even won the August Save of the Month award for his heroics against Crystal Palace and recorded three clean sheets, helping Everton maintain an unbeaten run in their first five opening matches.
On the other hand, Garner had to be patient to break into the first team. Initially deployed as a right-back, he gradually shifted to his natural position as a central midfielder. This transformation has paid off: this season, he has become Everton's tempo-setter with a pass accuracy rate of 91%—the highest among midfielders available to manager David Moyes. Furthermore, his defensive contributions have also been outstanding, averaging 12.1 defensive actions per 90 minutes, placing him above 80% of other midfielders in the Premier League.
The success story of Pickford and Garner stands in stark contrast to Everton's numerous failed signings in recent years. Since their last European adventure, the club has often been embroiled in relegation battles due to player spending that didn't align with their needs. However, these two recruits demonstrate that a more targeted approach—prioritizing potential and tactical fit—can be a foundation for resurgence. Moyes, now managing the team, seems to be finding the right formula by maximizing Garner's role as a midfield anchor and Pickford as the last line of defense.
"Garner is a player who always wants to learn and develop. He has the quality to become a key player not only for Everton but also at the international level," said an unnamed English football pundit.
For football fans in Indonesia, Everton's story is relevant to the dynamics of Liga 1 clubs, which are often tempted by big spending without thorough planning. The success of Pickford and Garner underscores the importance of meticulous scouting and long-term player development. Clubs like Persija, Persib, or Bali United can learn that investing in affordable young players and giving them time to adapt is often more sustainable than bringing in expensive big names who don't fit the system.
Moving forward, Everton's challenge is to maintain their performance and resist the temptation to sell Garner for quick profit. If he continues to develop, it's not impossible that he could follow Pickford as a club icon and break into the England national team. The question is, will Everton be able to build a competitive team to return to Europe, or will they once again get caught in a cycle of unproductive spending? Only time will tell, but the current foundation appears more solid than ever.
