the wolfEverton‘s unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League season continued with a 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening in North London.
The Toffees have picked up one win and three draws from the opening four matches of the campaign, which supporters may well have taken before a ball was kicked.
There may be some frustration that the team failed to beat Spurs, though, because summer signing Brennan Johnson had a huge chance to find the back of the net, and blazed his shot high and wide of the goal unmarked.
The overall mood should be positive, however, because the Toffees continued their unbeaten run and kept a clean sheet against the Lilywhites.
While one or two of the boys—like Brennan Johnson— struggled to really get into the game, Garner completely ran the show in that engine room. He outclassed that Tottenham midfield from the first whistle to the last and was the main reason we were able to dig in, stick to the game plan, and get a draw.
Spurs have got Enzo Fernández and Sandro Tonali—two fellas who cost them £185m combined (£100m and £85m for those counting). But Jimmy? We brought him in from Manchester United for £15m back in 2022. £15m! That is looking like a absolute steal with every single game he plays for this football club. He walked all over two lads worth nearly £200m, and he did it by putting his foot in, battling for every ball, and showing proper quality when he had it.
Look at the stats—they don’t lie. He won 10 out of his 15 duels in the middle of the park. That’s double what Fernández and Tonali managed between the two of them. Double! He had 71 touches, completed 90% of his passes, made eight ball recoveries, three tackles, and even put in a last-man tackle when we needed it most. He only lost the ball seven times all night. When you’re under the cosh, you need a player who can win the ball back, hold onto it, relieve the pressure, and give the rest of the team a breather. That’s proper midfield play.
He was combative, he was aggressive, but he was cultured with it too. The lad’s 25 now, and over these first four Premier League games, he’s won 64% of his ground duels and completed 91% of his passes. He was brilliant in the 2-2 draw with United last week as well, and he backed it right up on Saturday evening.
That’s the standard. If he keeps outperforming these big-money midfielders at the top clubs week-in, week-out, we’re going to have clubs sniffing around him come the January window, no doubt about it. But right now? He’s wearing the Blue shirt, he’s putting a shift in, and he was the best player on that pitch by a mile.
DKB
the wolf
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Bigsam