Leighton Baines Shines in Everton Gloom and Remains the Clear Choice for England
Everton's miserable start to the season has largely been the result of some comically bad defending.
Roberto Martinez's side have conceded more goals (16) than any other Premier League club, and as a result, the form of most of the club's defenders has been criticised.
Phil Jagielka has subsequently lost his England place, but this is not a fate that should be shared by Leighton Baines.
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The left-back is one member of a beleaguered back four who has performed well this season and deserves to continue as his country's first-choice left-back.
Baines grabbed unwanted headlines over the past round of Premier League games for a crucial penalty miss against Manchester United—his first from 15 Premier League spot-kicks.
Aside from that, the left-back has arguably been his side's most consistent player this season.
Crucially for the Toffees' attacking prospects, Baines seems to have rediscovered his creative prowess, something he temporarily misplaced after almost a year without an assist between April 2013 and March 2014.
Since March, he's provided nine assists, form reminiscent of his 2010-11 season when he recorded the third-most assists (11) in the Premier League.
In fact, Everton have almost forgotten how to score without Baines this season.
The left-back is currently on a run of scoring or assisting seven of his side's 11 most recent goals—eight, if you include his pass to Steven Naismith against Wolfsburg, though the subsequent own goal prevented another Baines assist.
The left-back also leads the team in creative terms, creating double as many chances (16) as any other Everton player this season and almost double as many as any other Premier League defender.
That is reflected by the side's current bias towards left-sided attacks. Against Manchester United, the Toffees favoured the left flank 47 per cent of the time, using the right just 23 per cent. Overall, Everton have preferred the left 42 per cent, the most in the Premier League.
Going forward, Baines remains England's best attacking full-back, which is why he must remain a part of Roy Hodgson's plans. His performance against Switzerland was an example of how he should be used for his country.
For one of the first occasions in his international career, he was partnered with a narrow midfielder, in Fabian Delph, who was willing to come inside instead of staying on the touchline and restricting Baines' space.
The pair linked up well and made similar combinations to the ones Baines regularly makes with Steven Pienaar.
If there is an argument for England to move away from the 29-year-old Baines, it mostly comes from those who support Kieran Gibbs' ascent; however, while the Arsenal man may offer similar—if not slightly more—security at the back, his attacking production pales in comparison.
Indeed, Baines has delivered the most chances of any defender—and any player in the 2012-13 season—for the past five Premier League campaigns.
It's important Baines' current defensive form isn't loosely associated with Everton's overall troubles in at the back. In defence, while others have been miles below their best and committing numerous individual errors, Baines has remained consistent.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Toffees lead the Premier League in individual errors (10) this season, five of which have led directly to goals. Baines is the only regular starter in defence—along with John Stones—yet to record a statistical error, which demonstrates his more reliable form.
England have rarely seen the best of Baines at international level. This has sometimes been due to the player himself but more often because of a system, his role or his fellow left-sided partner.
If Hodgson establishes a way of using Baines in a more attacking sense, as was the case against Switzerland, he remains England's leading left-back.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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