Many consider the problem position at the club to be left back, thats harsh but perhaps the answer is already in the squad.
Danny Fox has got a lot of stick in some quarters in the opening games, some of it is warranted, but then again his fellow defenders have made as many mistakes, but as i have been saying till Im blue in the face, the problem isnt and never was 100% Fox, its always been that he is exposed by the lack of cover in front of him.
Nathan Clyne's second half performance at left back against Aston Villa, made many think that it was Fox wo was the weak link, but Villa were a beaten side in that second half and rarely tested Clyne and indeed he had plenty of room to maraud down the left wing, at Everton though it was a different matter, time and time again he was exposed down the left flank (as was Richardson down the right as well) his display was no better than any of the shifts Danny Fox had put in, but it proved my point, its not the left back who is the problem but the midfielder covering him.
However in the 81st minute at Goodison I saw some light at the end of the tunnell, on came Ben Reeves for Clyne and although the problems were still there, Reeves looked better able to equip with them that either Fox or Clyne, who being right footed is better off at right back.
Reeves is essentially a defender although most of his games tend to be cameo's in midfield, but in general he is a left back, he played most of his time in the youth team in that position, on Saturday at Goodison he came on and although it was only for ten minutes he looked comfortable in the spot, he could run he could tackle and the had a tenacious look about him that said he wanted to play football and wanted the ball.
Put bluntly with Fox injured I would play Reeves against Fulham next week, I know some will shout out for Shaw to be thrown into the side and i had to laugh at Goodison as a fair chunk of those behind me thought that it was actually Shaw who had come on and were delighted, but of course hadnt seen him play so had a red face when the tannoy system gave Reeves name, Shaw isnt ready quite yet, especially in a defence so chaotic as ours, but Shaw is, at 20 (21 next month)Reeves has a little more experience and strength than Shaw and he is of an age when he knows he has to start playing games or perhaps never push on, he has a hunger to play thats good to see.
Playing Reeves wont magically end our problems, nor will playing haw there for that matter, our problems run far deeper than just putting in a quality player at left back, we could play Ashley Cole there and still he would get exposed, no we need to address the wide man issue on both sides of midfield, but I do feel Reeves would offer something that we are lacking at the moment and although its not the solution it would be a step in the right direction.
Nigel Adkins has to be bold and identify problems and solve them, unfortunately in the case of another central defender and the wide men, it wont happen till January, but between now and then he can do things that will improve the side and our results.