Everton have now been told that Tottenham didn’t sign one Toffees star because he was considered ‘overweight’ by the scouts observing him.
One of Everton’s best players right now might have been playing for Tottenham Hotspur, had a scouting trip David Pleat was sent on gone differently.
David Pleat on when he scouted James Tarkowski
David Pleat has appeared on the Last Word On Spurs podcast and has told the story of when he scouted Everton captain James Tarkowski for Tottenham.
“I also remember going to watch Tarkowski at Crawley for Oldham, very clearly. A bit overweight, I thought, at the time. I was assured by the old chairman, who I knew, Mr Corney, who said, âGo and watch him. £400,000.
“I watched him play, and I thought, A, heâs heavy; B, he may not be the quickest on the turn; and he likes that honeymoon ball too much, from centre-back to outside-right. Oh, and he could hit it well. Tarkowski, I donât see him doing it now so much.”
This all happened back when Tarkowski was at Oldham from 2011 until 2014, and since then, Pleat’s criticisms have been proven wrong pretty emphatically.
Tarkowski has made 350 Premier League appearances, scored 13 goals, and made 12 assists in his career to date at both Burnley and Everton, becoming one of the most underrated defenders in the league, and has aged like a fine wine in David Moyes’ defence.
Any criticism Pleat had on Tarkowski’s weight was misguided, as despite his big frame and now his age factoring in, Tarkowski still has a speed reaching 31.5 km/h, which is more than quick enough for what is asked of him.
Tarkowski is built in the exact way you would want a centre-back to be, is incredibly strong, and one of the most physical in the league. Absolutely not fitting the concerns Pleat had about him.
Had Spurs overlooked this, Tarkowski could have been a starter for them in the past five years instead of some of the terrible centre-backs that have graced their line-ups.